To forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary: Burnt offerings were animal sacrifices that were burnt whole on the altar; for these sacrifices see Num 28.3-8, where drink offerings are also mentioned. The Greek word for sacrifices is a generic word for offerings, so Good News Bible is too specific with “grain offerings.” The sanctuary refers to the Temple (see verse 21). This clause may be expressed as “The Temple was no longer to be used for burnt offerings, wine offerings, or other sacrifices” or “You are no longer allowed to offer burnt offerings, wine offerings, or other sacrifices in the Temple.” If it will be difficult for translators to find natural equivalents for these offerings, they may say “You must not offer sacrifices in the Temple.”

To profane sabbaths and feasts: For feasts see the comments on verse 39. This clause may be rendered “Sabbaths and religious holidays are to be treated as ordinary work days” or “You must treat Sabbaths and religious holidays as ordinary work days.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• “You are no longer allowed to offer burnt offerings, wine offerings, or other sacrifices in the Temple. You must treat Sabbaths and religious holidays as ordinary work days.

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.