For with alacrity he founded a gymnasium right under the citadel: The logical connector For may be left implied (so Good News Bible, New Revised Standard Version). This clause does not mean that Jason built the stadium hurriedly, but that he began to construct it very soon. However the Greek word rendered with alacrity can be translated “gladly” (Good News Bible “With great enthusiasm”). Translators may choose between these meanings. For gymnasium see verse 9 and the comments on 1Macc 1.14. For citadel see the comments on 1Macc 1.33, where a similar Greek word is used. Good News Bible usually translates the similar Greek word as “fort,” but here it has “Temple hill,” and with good reasons. First, the point here is really that the stadium was located near the Temple. Second, the Greek word here (akropolis) actually refers to the highest point of a city, which was in this case the hill where the Temple stood. No fort is mentioned. We may translate this clause as “He very soon built a stadium at the foot of the Temple hill” or “He enthusiastically built a stadium at the foot of the Temple hill.”

And he induced the noblest of the young men to wear the Greek hat: Induced means that Jason “influenced” rather than “led” (Good News Bible) these young men. Noblest may be rendered “finest” (Good News Bible). The Greek hat translates a Greek noun that refers to a particular type of hat worn by young Greek athletes. We advise translators to avoid a direct reference to a hat, and follow Good News Bible, which expresses the meaning clearly with “the Greek custom of participating in athletic events.” Good News Bible inserts “the Greek custom” to help explain to a modern audience what was wrong with athletic activity. These contests were considered contrary to Jewish law.

Revised Standard Version‘s footnote on this verse indicates that there is a textual problem in the last clause. In question is the inclusion or omission of one word. The meaning of the clause is not affected either way, and we suggest that translators ignore the problem. A model for consideration is “and he influenced our finest young men to engage in Greek sports.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.