We have trampled down the house of the sanctuary as offensive houses are trampled down: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, offensive houses can be (literally) translated “the houses of abominations.” This expression presents a problem, since here the Jewish author is putting into the mouth of the Gentiles words that only a Jew would use. A “house of abominations” would be a pagan place of worship, a temple or shrine where idols are worshiped. Philopator would not refer to his own places of worship as “houses of abominations.” Contemporary English Version offers a good way around this problem by using indirect speech, saying “that their strength destroyed our temple as if it were nothing but a pagan place of worship.” The verb trampled down is itself a problem, since no one is threatening to destroy the Temple; Philopator only wants to see the inside of it. As far as the Jews were concerned, of course, once it was profaned, it might as well not exist. We suggest avoiding a literal reference to “trampling down” or “destroying” by rendering verses 17b-18 as follows:

• 17 … If you do, these arrogant sinners are going to brag, and say, 18 ‘We have made this Temple just as unholy [or, unfit for use] as the Jews would like to make our temples.’

• 17 … and say that 18 they have made this Temple just as unfit for use as we [the Jews] would like to make their temples.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.