And the people began to write in their documents and contracts: In the ancient world, when legal documents were dated, they were dated by reference to the year of the current ruler. Good News Bible has “People began to date their documents and contracts with these words…,” and Contemporary English Version says “And on their documents and contracts they wrote….”

In the first year of Simon the great high priest and commander and leader of the Jews: Before this time a Jew in Judea would have been expected to use the date “In the fourth year of King Demetrius~II of Syria.” But now a legal document could be dated “In the first year of Simon, the great High Priest, commander of the Jewish armies, and leader of the Jewish people.”

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.