For when the leader reached Persia with a force that seemed irresistible: In certain languages translators may wish to render the connector For as “It happened that” or “The reason is that.” However, these connective expressions tend to make the sentence more complex than is necessary, and in many languages For may be omitted as in Good News Bible. The leader is King Antiochus~IV. Translators should follow Good News Bible by naming him at this point rather than waiting until the next verse. Reached Persia may be rendered “arrived in Persia” (Good News Bible). Force is better translated “army” (Good News Bible) or “group of soldiers.” Irresistible may be expressed as “invincible” (New English Bible) or “impossible to defeat” (Good News Bible).

They were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanea by a deception employed by the priests of Nanea: They were cut to pieces means that the heads and limbs of Antiochus and his men were literally cut from their bodies, probably with swords. Verse 14 makes it clear that Nanea was a goddess (female god) of love and fertility. By a deception means “tricked them.” Good News Bible says “by an act of treachery,” but this rendering is too complicated. A better model for the last half of this verse is “but the priests of the goddess Nanea tricked them, and they were massacred in the temple of Nanea.” Translators who cannot use the passive voice may say “… tricked them and massacred them in the temple of Nanea” or “… tricked them and cut them in pieces with swords [or, used swords to cut them in pieces] in her temple.”

The writer overstates the case by leaving the impression that the whole irresistible force of Antiochus was cut down by the priests. However, only the king and a few of his advisers were killed (see verses 15-16). The loss of the army’s leadership made them powerless.

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.