We suggest that translators begin a new paragraph here, since the scene changes to the plundering of the spoils left by Nicanor’s army (so Good News Bible).

Then the Jews seized the spoils and the plunder: The spoils and the plunder may be combined into one expression, such as “the loot” (Good News Bible), “everything of value” (Contemporary English Version), or “all the valuable possessions.” But neither Revised Standard Version nor Good News Bible state clearly from whom they took the loot. Contemporary English Version is clearer with “The Jews took everything of value from the dead enemy soldiers.”

And they cut off Nicanor’s head and the right hand which he had so arrogantly stretched out: The right hand which he had so arrogantly stretched out refers to Nicanor’s oath in verse 35 threatening the Temple; raising the right hand was customary when making an oath. The reference is clear in 2Macc 15.32, where it specifically says that Nicanor had stretched out his hand against the Temple. Instead of the right hand, Good News Bible says “his right arm,” since he had to extend his arm to stretch out his hand. So in languages where the word for “arm” and “hand” is the same, there will be no problem. It will be helpful to build in the idea of threatening to destroy the Temple into the translation of this sentence. A model that does this is “They chopped off Nicanor’s head and the right arm that he had stretched out arrogantly as he swore to destroy the Temple.”

And brought them and displayed them just outside Jerusalem: For the display of the severed body parts, compare Jdt 14.1, 11. The author uses irony here since the Greek verb for displayed is the same one rendered stretched out. Just outside Jerusalem makes it clear to the reader that Jerusalem itself was not defiled by Nicanor’s head or hand. The text does not say how the head and hand were displayed, but presumably they were put on poles in order to be easily seen. If we specify that, it may be possible to convey the irony in Nicanor raising his hand and then the Jews displaying it. The following model for the verse does this:

• The Jews took everything of value from the dead enemy soldiers. They also cut off Nicanor’s head and his right arm, which he had arrogantly raised as he swore that he would destroy the Temple. They took that arm and the head and raised them on poles just outside Jerusalem.

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.