Then both friends and bodyguards … : Both friends and bodyguards does not mean there were only two friends. It means Philopator’s friends as well as his bodyguards took action. Friends refers to Philopator’s close advisers and officers, not simply to people who liked him (see 1 Macc 2.18). Bodyguards were soldiers who had the duty of protecting Philopator from harm.

Seeing the severe punishment that had overtaken him: Severe punishment is the author’s comment on what was happening; the Egyptians might not have perceived what was happening to Philopator as divine punishment. Translators may find this hard to express without causing confusion. The best course is probably to refer to what was happening to Philopator; for example, the beginning of this verse may be rendered “When Philopator’s officers and bodyguards saw what was happening to him….”

And fearing lest he should lose his life may be translated “they were afraid that he was going to die.”

Quickly dragged him out: The men grabbed Philopator, presumably by the arms, and dragged him out of the Temple area. Contemporary English Version says “so they dragged him away from the crowd,” which is a good way to express this clause.

Panic-stricken in their exceedingly great fear may be rendered “completely panic-stricken,” “completely panicking [or, losing their nerve],” or “they themselves were terribly afraid.”

Here are models for this verse:

• When Philopator’s [or, the king’s] officials and bodyguards saw what a terrible thing was happening to him, they were afraid that he was dying. Completely panic-stricken themselves, they dragged him out of the Temple area [or, away from the crowd].

• … was dying. They themselves were terribly afraid, but they dragged him out of the Temple area [or, away from the crowd].

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.