Within the total of three days eighty thousand were destroyed, forty thousand in hand-to-hand fighting; and as many were sold into slavery as were slain: Within the total of three days means “Three days later” (Good News Bible). Revised Standard Version seems to say 80,000 Jews died, 40,000 of whom died in hand-to-hand combat, with another 40,000 sold into slavery. This is possible; the Greek verb translated were destroyed could mean “were killed,” but it is broad enough in meaning to include those sold into slavery as well as those killed. Most other versions, including Good News Bible, understand it this latter way, and we recommend this approach. This means the verse is accounting for 80,000 people. Of these, 40,000 were killed in the massacre and another 40,000 were sold as slaves. In hand-to-hand fighting is misleading; it implies a military action involving two armies. Here there is only one army conducting a massacre of helpless citizens. “In the fighting” is enough to say. Good News Bible has “in the attack,” which is a bit misleading for the same reason as Revised Standard Version‘s rendering (see the comments on the section heading). Good News Bible renders as many … as were more literally than Revised Standard Version, saying “at least that many….” We believe Good News Bible is slightly better here. Were sold into slavery does not imply that 40,000 people were sold as slaves in three days’ time, only that they were captured, later to be sold as slaves.

Here are possible models for this verse:

• Three days later they had killed 40,000 people, and had captured another 40,000 alive whom they later sold as slaves. Jerusalem had lost 80,000 people.

• Three days later 40,000 people lay dead [or, were killed]. At least that many more would be sold as slaves. 80,000 people were gone.

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.