So he set a day and went in to direct the inspection of these funds: It sounds strange at first that Heliodorus set a day, rather than getting right to work. Perhaps he knew that dealing with tons of gold and silver would require effort, and he needed time to organize for the work. Perhaps the writer wants to allow time for the people of Jerusalem to learn what was about to happen. Went in surely means “went into the Temple” (Good News Bible). Heliodorus did not arrive at the treasury, which was in the Temple, until verse 24, and verses 30-31 seem to indicate that the scene described in verses 24-29 took place in the Temple. Further, verses 31-35 assume that Heliodorus was present at the Temple’s sacrificial altar. To direct the inspection of these funds refers to examining the gold and silver to see what was there, and planning its removal. New English Bible says “to make an inventory.”

Alternative models for the first half of verse 14 are:

• On the day that he had set, Heliodorus entered the Temple to direct [or, supervise] the work of counting of the money.

• Heliodorus set a day, and on that day he entered….

There was no little distress throughout the whole city: This short statement summarizes the contents of the whole section. The word “uproar” in Good News Bible can be misunderstood, if it suggests that the people were on the verge of a riot. An alternative model for the last half of verse 14 is:

• People all over Jerusalem were in great distress [or, agonized in their hearts].

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.