And when the materials for the sacrifices were presented: The materials for the sacrifices refers to the dead animals that were to be burned and the wood that was laid under them. Were presented refers to placing these materials on the altar. Good News Bible is perhaps clear enough in English for this clause, but translators who see that it is not a suitable model may say “When the animals for the sacrifice had been placed on the altar” or “When the priests had placed the animals for the sacrifice on the altar.” These models don’t lose anything essential for the story; it will all be clear in the next verse.

Nehemiah ordered the priests to sprinkle the liquid on the wood and what was laid upon it: What was laid upon it obviously refers to the sacrificial animals, which Good News Bible is helpful in making clear. It may be used as a model. An alternative model for the last half of this verse is “he told the priests to pour the black oily liquid over both the wood and the animals.”

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.