He was welcomed magnificently by Jason and the city may be rendered “In Jerusalem Jason and the people of the city welcomed him magnificently [or, with great honor].”

And ushered in with a blaze of torches and with shouts: Torches were long poles with rags soaked in olive oil attached to their ends. When the rags were set on fire, they gave off a brilliant light.

Then he marched into Phoenicia: Antiochus’ “army” (Good News Bible) is not specifically mentioned in the Greek, but it is quite clearly implied in the verb translated marched and it will be helpful to include it. For Phoenicia see 2Macc 3.5.

Good News Bible has a good model for this verse, but it may be rephrased as follows:

• There Jason and the people of the city gave him a magnificent welcome [or, welcomed him in a magnificent/impressive way]. They went out to greet him, carrying torches and shouting. From Jerusalem Antiochus led his army to Phoenicia.

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.