And intend to make a landing in the country: Antiochus intends to land his ships and let the soldiers off on the coast of his empire. This clause may be rendered “I plan to invade the land from the sea” (similarly Good News Bible) or “I plan to land my soldiers on the coast and invade the country.”

So that I may proceed against those who have destroyed our country and those who have devastated many cities in my kingdom: For proceed against, Good News Bible and New English Bible have “attack,” New Jerusalem Bible says “hunt down,” New American Bible uses “take revenge on,” and Contemporary English Version and Goldstein translate “punish.” Any of these models are acceptable. The relative clauses those who have destroyed our country and those who have devastated many cities in my kingdom refer to the same people, that is, Trypho and his followers. Good News Bible reverses these clauses, which other languages may find helpful. Our country and my kingdom both refer to the Seleucid Empire, so Contemporary English Version combines these phrases, saying “my country.” Good News Bible has merely “the country.” This is possible, but “my country” expresses the tone better.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• I plan to land on the coast and invade the country. Then I am going to punish those who have destroyed my kingdom [or, country], and have ruined many of its towns.

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.