And so those who had spoken for the city and the villages and the holy vessels quickly suffered the unjust penalty: The three men from Jerusalem had come to the king to argue the case concerning the implements that rightfully belonged to the Temple, but they were put to death, unjustly, for their efforts. For And so those who had spoken, Good News Bible has “The three men had spoken,” which is a helpful model. As the footnotes in both Good News Bible and Revised Standard Version indicate, there is a textual problem with the villages. Some Greek manuscripts read the villages, while others have “the people” (so Good News Bible). The difference in Greek is very small, and no certain decision can be made. We prefer “the people,” but translators may take their choice. If “the people” is chosen, it is possible to combine it with the city and say “the people of Jerusalem.” For the holy vessels, see the comments on 1Macc 4.49. Good News Bible says the three men spoke “in defense of Jerusalem, its people, and the sacred objects stolen from the Temple.” However, they did not speak “in defense of” anyone or anything. Jerusalem and its inhabitants had not been accused of anything. The men accused Menelaus of depriving the Jewish people of religious and national treasures. They spoke “on behalf of” the people of Jerusalem “concerning” the sacred objects stolen from their Temple. An alternative model for this verse is:

• These [three] men had represented the people of Jerusalem regarding the sacred objects stolen from their Temple, but they were quickly and unjustly put to death [or, Antiochus had them killed quickly and unjustly].

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.