But when the Jews became aware of Lysimachus‘attack …: The Greek connector rendered But may be omitted (so Good News Bible). Good News Bible adds that the events here took place “in the Temple courtyard,” which is probably true. The ashes are probably the ashes left from offering sacrifices on the altar, and the next verse mentions that Lysimachus was killed near the treasury in the Temple courtyard. We urge translators to follow the Good News Bible in adding this. Good News Bible renders Lysimachus‘attack as “what was happening,” which is not dramatic enough. A better model for the beginning of this verse is “When the Jews [or, our people] in the Temple courtyard saw Lysimachus and his men running toward them” (similarly Contemporary English Version). This model makes it clear that Lysimachus did not attack alone.

Some picked up stones, some blocks of wood, and others took handfuls of ashes that were lying about: The people in the crowd were unarmed, so when they were attacked, they picked up whatever they could find to defend themselves with.

And threw them in wild confusion at Lysimachus and his men means they threw these objects wildly, not with great accuracy.

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• When the Jews [or, our people] in the Temple courtyard saw Lysimachus and his men coming to attack them, they picked up rocks, pieces of wood, or simply handfuls of ashes from the altar and threw them wildly at Lysimachus and his men [or, the attackers].

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.