While he was in Ecbatana: Ecbatana was a city located near modern Hamadan in Iran, about halfway between Teheran and Baghdad. This clause may be rendered “When he [or, Antiochus] reached the city of Ecbatana” (similarly Good News Bible).

News came to him of what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timothy: News came to him may be translated “people told him” or even “he received news.” Nicanor refers to the Syrian official by this name in 2Macc 8.9-24, 34-36. The reference to Timothy is a problem, since the only reference so far to Timothy has been in 2Macc 8.30, while the story of Timothy’s defeat is not told until 2Macc 12.10-25. However, there is no textual problem here, so the reference to Timothy must simply be translated as it stands.

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.