When Onias became fully aware of these acts: Good News Bible says “When Onias heard about this.” New English Bible is better with “When Onias heard this on good authority,” and so is New American Bible with “When Onias had clear evidence of the facts.” Another possible model is “When Onias had clear evidence of what Menelaus had done.”

He publicly exposed them means that he openly accused Menelaus of robbing the Temple.

Having first withdrawn to a place of sanctuary at Daphne near Antioch: The phrase having first withdrawn may be rendered “fled for safety” (Good News Bible) or “ran for safety” (Contemporary English Version). A place of sanctuary was a place where, by custom or law, he would be safe from attack. This would presumably be a religious site, but sanctuary is not used here in that sense; it means “safety.” Daphne was a park-like area about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Antioch where there were some temples. One dedicated to the god Apollo was especially famous. It may appear odd that the pious Onias went to a pagan temple to claim safety, but the writer shows no embarrassment about it. Evidently if no worship of idols was involved, and if it might save his life, it was considered acceptable.

Good News Bible rearranges this verse so that the reference to Onias’ seeking sanctuary precedes his public accusation. This rearrangement eliminates the need for the word first. Here is another model that also does this:

• When Onias had clear evidence of what Menelaus had done [or, was convinced that this had happened], he fled for safety to a temple near Antioch at Daphne. Then he openly accused Menelaus of robbing the Temple [in Jerusalem].

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.