The rays of the sun were not yet shed abroad may be rendered “just as the sun was coming up.” This clause is better placed after the following clause (see our model below).

And while the king was receiving his friends: Unlike the common people, who were crowding into the stadium, the friends of the king (see the comments on 3 Macc 2.23) had been invited by the king to join him in enjoying the spectacle. They did not have to wait all night at the stadium, but arrived just in time, as the sun was rising.

Hermon arrived and invited him to come out may be translated “Hermon came in and told the king he could come out [to the stadium].”

Indicating that what the king desired was ready for action means Hermon told the king that everything was ready for the elephants to kill the Jews.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• The king’s officials arrived at the palace just as the sun was rising, and Philopator welcomed them. Hermon came in and told the king that he could come out [to the stadium/race track] since everything was ready.

• … Hermon came in and said to the king, “Your Majesty! You may now come out to the stadium [or, race track]. Everything is ready.”

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.