Lysias was also to take care of Antiochus his son until he returned: The young Antiochus, who would reign briefly as Antiochus~V, was about nine years old at this time. Good News Bible inserts “the Fifth” here to further identify the boy, although he will really not be Antiochus the Fifth until succeeding his father to the throne. Translators may certainly follow Good News Bible if they think it helpful. A model that uses direct speech in this verse is:

• The king told Lysias, “Look after my son Antiochus until I return.”

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.