Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:41 - 1:42

Antiochus attempts to consolidate his power by dissolving the distinctive cultures of the peoples he rules. Of course the measure was aimed specifically at the Jews, whose unique religion set them apart from everyone else, and whose religious law constituted a nuisance for the kingdom’s administration.

Then the king wrote to his whole kingdom may be rendered “Then King Antiochus issued a decree that all nations in his empire” (similarly Good News Bible) or “… enacted a law requiring every person in his empire.”

That all should be one people, and that each should give up his customs: These two clauses say practically the same thing, so verses 41-42 may be combined and translated as follows:

• Antiochus now enacted [or, made] a law requiring every person in his empire to follow the same customs.

Contemporary English Version also combines the two verses and restructures them as follows:

• Antiochus wanted everyone in his kingdom to follow the same customs. So he made a law that said, “You must give up the traditions of your ancestors.”

We combine these two verses because they are so short and can easily be translated in one sentence. It may not be necessary to do so in translation. Good News Bible has reversed the order of the last two clauses, making it necessary to combine the two verses. It also includes verse 43 in the combination because it is not following the verse order in Revised Standard Version; the first clause of verse 43 in Revised Standard Version is part of verse 42 in most versions and in the Greek texts. Good News Bible‘s arrangement of material works well, and translators who wish to follow it should combine verses 41-43. We offer a somewhat simpler alternative below.

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:43

All the Gentiles accepted the command of the king: In most versions, as well as in Rahlfs’ and Kappler’s Greek texts, this clause is part of verse 42, and we recommend that translators so number it. It may be rendered simply “All the Gentiles submitted to [or, obeyed] this decree [or, law].”

Many even from Israel gladly adopted his religion; they sacrificed to idols and profaned the sabbath: An idol is a man-made object, usually in the likeness of a person, which is worshiped as a god. Profaned the sabbath means they no longer set aside the Sabbath as a time to worship God. A model that renders these clauses as a separate verse is “Many Israelites also were happy to convert to his [or, the king’s] religion. They began offering sacrifices to idols, and no longer observed the Sabbath.”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:44

And the king sent letters by messengers to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah: We recommend that translators begin a new paragraph here. The connector And is not necessary if this is done. Good News Bible has a paragraph break here and renders And as “also,” which is valid. Letters does not refer to ordinary written communication between two people that today would be sent with a postage stamp. It refers to the written decree of Antiochus to his empire in verse 41. New English Bible translates letters nicely as “written orders.” These written orders give specific details about how the king’s policy is to be put into effect. The word cities with reference to Judean settlements other than Jerusalem occurs here for the first time. Jerusalem was the only place at the time populous enough to be called a city in modern English. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version prefer “towns” here and elsewhere, and the Handbook will follow this. An alternative model for this clause is “King Antiochus also sent messengers carrying written orders for everyone in Jerusalem and in all the towns of Judea.”

He directed them to follow customs strange to the land: The contents of the written orders begin here and continue through verse 50. Since most of the items in the contents are given in the same grammatical construction (beginning with to), this material may be presented in the form of a list (see the following verses). So in contrast to Good News Bible we will present the items in a list, translating this verse as follows:

• The king sent messengers to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah, with written orders. The Jews were ordered to follow customs foreign to their country, as follows:….

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:45

To forbid burnt offerings and sacrifices and drink offerings in the sanctuary: Burnt offerings were animal sacrifices that were burnt whole on the altar; for these sacrifices see Num 28.3-8, where drink offerings are also mentioned. The Greek word for sacrifices is a generic word for offerings, so Good News Bible is too specific with “grain offerings.” The sanctuary refers to the Temple (see verse 21). This clause may be expressed as “The Temple was no longer to be used for burnt offerings, wine offerings, or other sacrifices” or “You are no longer allowed to offer burnt offerings, wine offerings, or other sacrifices in the Temple.” If it will be difficult for translators to find natural equivalents for these offerings, they may say “You must not offer sacrifices in the Temple.”

To profane sabbaths and feasts: For feasts see the comments on verse 39. This clause may be rendered “Sabbaths and religious holidays are to be treated as ordinary work days” or “You must treat Sabbaths and religious holidays as ordinary work days.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• “You are no longer allowed to offer burnt offerings, wine offerings, or other sacrifices in the Temple. You must treat Sabbaths and religious holidays as ordinary work days.

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:46

To defile the sanctuary and the priests: For defile the sanctuary, see the comments on verse 37. Priests were the Jewish religious leaders who conducted worship in the Temple, making offerings and prayers to God on behalf of the people. This term will be difficult to translate in some languages. Possible renderings for priests are “those who present the people’s sacrifices to God” and “spokesmen of the people to God.” However, the Greek word for priests can also be rendered “holy things” (Good News Bible), which is the sense we prefer. This whole clause may be rendered “Things had to be done that would defile the Temple and the objects in it [or, priests],” “… that would make the Temple and the things in it [ritually] unclean,” or even “You must do things that will defile the Temple and the objects in it.”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:47

To build altars and sacred precincts and shrines for idols: In cultures where altars are unknown, translators may say “places [or, platforms] for sacrificing animals.” The Greek words for sacred precincts and shrines for idols refer to sanctuaries for worshiping idols. An alternative model for the whole clause is “Altars, temples, and other places to worship idols were to be built” or “You must build altars, temples, and other places to worship idols [or, our gods].”

To sacrifice swine and unclean animals: Unclean animals are animals that are ritually unclean. They are unclean is from the standpoint of the Jews, not Antiochus. So this clause may be rendered “Pigs and other animals that were unclean [or, taboo] to the Jews were to be sacrificed” or “You must sacrifice pigs and other animals that you consider unclean [or, taboo].”

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:48

And to leave their sons uncircumcised: This clause ends the list of things Antiochus commanded the Jews to do. For uncircumcised see the comments on “circumcision” at verse 15. An alternative model for the clause is “Their sons were not to be circumcised” or “Don’t circumcise your sons.”

They were to make themselves abominable by everything unclean and profane: The Greek words rendered unclean and profane mean essentially the same thing, so Good News Bible combines them, saying “ritually unclean.” The last half of this verse may be rendered “The [whole] purpose of the orders was for the people to make themselves ritually unclean by all sorts of acts forbidden by the Law.” This sentence may begin a new paragraph (see the model below).

An alternative model for verses 44-48 is:

• 44 Antiochus sent messengers carrying written orders for everyone in Jerusalem and in all the towns of Judea. He ordered the Jews to comply with the following laws foreign to their country:
45 “You are no longer allowed to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, or wine offerings in the Temple.
You are to treat Sabbaths and feast days as ordinary work days.
46 You must do things to defile the Temple and the priests.
47 You must build altars, temples, and other places to worship our gods.
You must sacrifice pigs and other animals you consider unclean.
48 Don’t circumcise your sons.”

The whole purpose of the orders was for the people to make themselves ritually unclean by all sorts of acts forbidden by the Law of Moses.

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.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 1:49

So that they should forget the law and change all the ordinances gives the ultimate purpose for Antiochus’ orders. The law refers to “the Law which the Lord had given through Moses” (Good News Bible). This verse may be rendered “It [the purpose] was to make them ignore the Law, and violate every command in it” or “By doing this [making themselves ritually unclean] they would ignore the Law and violate [or, disobey] all its commands.”

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.