He was not content with his uncounted licentious deeds … : He was not content with may be rendered “He was not satisfied with.” Philopator is accused of two things in this verse: committing licentious deeds and framing evil reports. The Greek word translated licentious deeds does not necessarily imply any sexual misconduct, as the word “licentious” implies in English. The point is that he did things that were reckless and without any regard at all as to whether they were right or wrong. Violence is implied also. So we may say “reckless acts of violence” or even “recklessly doing violent things against the Jews.”

But he also continued with such audacity that he framed evil reports in the various localities: The clause he also continued with such audacity refers to the outrageousness of his deeds, meaning he didn’t care what anyone thought. He framed evil reports presumably means Philopator “spread horrible rumors about the Jews” (Contemporary English Version). The various localities refers to different areas in Egypt where there were Jewish communities.

Here are alternative models for the first part of this verse:

• The reckless acts of violence he committed against the Jews were too many to count. But he was not satisfied with that [or, those things]. He also spread outrageous horrible rumors about the Jews in the areas where they lived.

• He did so many terrible things to the Jews that we cannot count them. But he was not satisfied with doing those things. He also….

And many of his friends, intently observing the king’s purpose, themselves also followed his will: For the king’s friends, see the comments on verse 23. The royal officials observed how the king wished the Jews to be treated, so they, on their own initiative, began to persecute the Jews also. Here is a model for this sentence: “Many of the king’s officials realized what the king wanted to accomplish, so they also began persecuting the Jews.”

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.