By such a fate it came about that Menelaus the lawbreaker died, without even burial in the earth: By such a fate it came about that … may be rendered “This was the way that…” or “It was in this way that….” The lawbreaker means Menelaus broke the Jewish Law. Good News Bible omits this expression, but it should be kept. Alternative models for this verse are:

• Menelaus had broken God’s Law, and this was how he died. He [or, His body] was never even buried.

• … They never even buried his body [or, corpse].

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.