Thus he burned with zeal for the law may be expressed as “In this way he showed his deep love for the Law of Moses.”

As Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu may be rendered “as much as Phinehas did when he killed Zimri the son of Salu [many years ago].” See Num 25.7-8, 14.

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.