When the impious king comprehended this situation: Translators will do well to name King Philopator at the beginning of this new section. Contemporary English Version is good with “As soon as the evil King Philopator….” This clause refers to the king realizing that his wishes (3 Macc 2.28-30) are not being carried out. While some Jews are deserting Judaism, others are remaining loyal, and finding some way to avoid punishment. So this situation may be rendered “what the Jews were doing to avoid being punished” (Contemporary English Version).

He became so infuriated that not only was he enraged against those Jews who lived in Alexandria: He became so infuriated may be rendered “he became terribly angry” (Contemporary English Version) or “his heart/liver became very hot.”

But was still more bitterly hostile toward those in the countryside: Perhaps Philopator had reason to believe that the Jews outside of Alexandria were more easily able to escape the demands he had made. In the countryside refers to those living in rural areas.

And he ordered that all should promptly be gathered into one place, and put to death by the most cruel means: The connector and may be rendered “so,” since it introduces the result of the king’s anger. He intends that all Jews in Egypt should be brought in one place, so that he can be sure they are all killed cruelly. Contemporary English Version takes the adverb promptly with the verb ordered, but we believe it goes with the verb be gathered. Still, we may rely on Contemporary English Version for the framework of a model for this verse as follows:

• As soon as the evil King Philopator learned what the Jews were doing to avoid being punished, he became terribly angry at the Jews in Alexandria and even more furious at those living in the countryside. So he ordered his men [or, soldiers] to quickly [or, immediately] bring all the Jews together and kill them all violently [or, in some violent way].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.