None of those who do not sacrifice shall enter their sanctuaries … : Verses 28-29 and 30b give the king’s words inscribed on the stone. These words are reported in the Greek text in indirect speech. Revised Standard Version wisely renders the inscription as direct speech, and we urge translators to follow Revised Standard Version in this. Contemporary English Version sets the text of the inscription apart from the surrounding context by indentation. This is effective and can be recommended. Historically, there may have been some statute applying to people other than just the Jews, but as far as the author is concerned, the inscription is specifically directed at the Jews, so translators may introduce “Jews” at this point (so Contemporary English Version). It is also clear from the context (verse 29) that those who do not sacrifice refers to those Jews who do not worship the Greek god Dionysus. Dionysus was the Greek god of wine. The law laid down here is that Jews will not be allowed to enter their sanctuaries, that is, conduct worship in their own holy places, if they do not also worship Dionysus. We suggest the following models for this whole clause: “No person [or, Jew] who does not offer sacrifices to the Greek god Dionysus will be permitted to participate in his own religion,” “We will not permit any people [or, Jews] who do not offer sacrifices to the Greek god Dionysus to worship in their own places of worship,” and even “Jews must offer sacrifices to the Greek god Dionysus before we will allow them to worship in their own sanctuaries [or, places of worship].”

And all Jews shall be subject to a registration involving poll tax and to the status of slaves: For and all Jews shall be subject to a registration, Contemporary English Version is good with “The name of every Jew must also be written in a record book.” Revised Standard Version translates one Greek noun as a registration involving poll tax. (A poll tax, or head tax, is a tax laid on every person.) However, this noun appears to signify registration among the lower classes of society, and not necessarily anything pertaining to a tax. Emmet expresses this sense by beginning here with “and that all Jews should be degraded to the rank of natives,” that is, of native Egyptians. In the Ptolemaic Kingdom, which Philopator ruled, the upper classes of society were not native Egyptians, but mainly Greeks. Jews, who were numerous in Egypt, were generally thought of as at least above the level of the native Egyptians, since they were often well educated and made their living in business or other ways unlike the poorest people of Egypt. This decree ensures that Jews will be treated no better than an ordinary Egyptian, in fact, they should have the status of slaves. The two Greek expressions rendered a registration involving poll tax and the status of slaves are not far from meaning the same thing. They certainly have the same effect, although there must have been some kind of listing involved (see the next verse). We suggest this model: “The name of every Jew must also be written in a record book to make sure that they pay taxes and be listed in the lower class of society, and considered slaves.”

Those who object to this are to be taken by force and put to death: Those who object to this means more than simply objecting, which all Jews would have done. The Greek here specifies people who actually speak out against the measures of the edict.

Here are alternative models for this verse:

• “No person [or, Jew] who does not offer sacrifices to the Greek god Dionysus will be permitted to participate in his own religion. The names of all Jews will be registered in a book to make sure that they pay taxes and be listed as belonging to the lowest class of society, and [for legal purposes] considered slaves. Anyone who speaks out against this will be arrested and killed.

• “We will not permit any person [or, Jew] who does not offer sacrifices to the Greek god Dionysus to worship in his own sanctuary. We will register the names of all Jews in a book to make sure that they pay taxes and are listed as belonging to the lowest class of society, and so [for legal purposes] considered slaves. We will arrest and kill any Jew who speaks out against this decree.

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.