Now be the first to come and do what the king commands: If such a highly respected leader as Mattathias obeys the king’s decree, along with his family, it will make the officials’ task easier. Good News Bible has a good model for this clause, saying “Why not be the first one here to do what the king has commanded?” Contemporary English Version is also helpful with “So why don’t you obey the king and accept his religion…?”
As all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done: Gentiles may be rendered “non-Jews” or even “foreigners” (see 1Macc 1.11). The expression those that are left in Jerusalem implies that those in Jerusalem who refused to obey the royal decree have either been killed or have fled. Good News Bible has a good translation here, and so does Contemporary English Version with “just as every Gentile and Jew in Judea and Jerusalem has already done.”
Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king: “Friend of the King” was a formal title bestowed on individuals whom the king wished to honor; they enjoyed special privileges and had access to the king that others did not. The Seleucids adopted it from Persian usage. This title will be used a number of times in 1Maccabees, and the Handbook will point these out. In 1Macc 10.65 and 11.27 we hear of an even closer inner circle called “First Friends.” Good News Bible does well to indicate that the friends of the king is a title by rendering the whole clause here as “If you do, you and your sons will be honored with the title of ‘Friends of the King.’” Another possible model is “Then the king will honor you and your sons with the title ‘Friends of the King.’”
And you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts: The silver and gold and many gifts will be the benefit Mattathias will receive for cooperating with the king. Good News Bible renders honored as “rewarded,” which is a good choice of words. In languages that do not have a passive voice, this whole clause may be expressed as “and will reward you with gold, silver, and many other gifts.”
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.