He shook him on this side and that as a reed is shaken by the wind, so that he lay helpless on the ground: Because God knocked Philopator, he began to reel, unable to keep his balance, until he fell to the ground, unable to rise. A reed is a tall grass with stiff, sharply-pointed leaves and a plume-like flower head. It grows in lakes and streams. The first two clauses of this verse may be rendered “Philopator shook violently as God knocked him back and forth like a reed [or, like tall grass] swaying in the wind [or, as the wind blows it].”

And, besides being paralyzed in his limbs, was unable even to speak: Philopator could not move or speak. Being paralyzed in his limbs may be expressed as “he became paralyzed” or “he was unable to move.”

Since he was smitten by a righteous judgment: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, smitten is the reading in some Greek manuscripts, “pierced” in others. Although smitten is probably correct, translators are unlikely to use a literal equivalent for either reading, so no textual note is necessary. Anderson expresses this clause well, saying “completely overpowered by a righteous judgment.” Righteous judgment means God had judged Philopator’s intent, and gave him a fair punishment: he deserved the punishment that God gave him.

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• Philopator shook violently, as God knocked him back and forth like a reed swaying in the wind. Philopator fell to the ground, unable to move or even to talk. God’s punishment was well deserved [or, He deserved this punishment that God gave him].

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.