We will not obey the king’s words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left: To the right hand or to the left is a common expression in the Old Testament meaning “in any way” (see, for example, Deut 5.32). Possible alternative models for this verse are:

• We refuse to obey the king! We will not make the slightest change in our way of worship!”

• We refuse to obey the king! We will not change the way we worship [or, our religious practices] in any way.”

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.