The scene now changes to Alcimus trying to solidify his power in Judea. So a new paragraph is warranted (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

Alcimus strove for the high priesthood: The rendering here must reflect the translator’s position on whether Alcimus was already High Priest and struggling to keep his position, or trying to attain the position (see the comments on verse 5). As in verse 5, we recommend picturing him as trying to attain the high priesthood. The Greek verb rendered strove indicates that this was a struggle; Good News Bible says “began his struggle,” which is a good model. Good News Bible‘s model for the whole verse may be slightly altered to read:

• Alcimus then began to struggle to make himself [or, to be accepted as] the High Priest.

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.