For they declared that those who for the belly’s sake had transgressed the divine commandments would never be favorably disposed toward the king’s government: The conjunction For may be omitted, so translators may begin this verse with “The faithful Jews said to him….” The clause those who for the belly’s sake had transgressed the divine commandments means the unfaithful Jews disobeyed God in order to remain safe and secure, with plenty to eat (see 3 Macc 2.31). We may say “those who had disobeyed God’s commands in order to have plenty to eat.” Would never be favorably disposed toward the king’s government may be rendered “would be just as willing to disobey the king’s law [or, the king and his rule].” If the faithless Jews were not faithful to God’s Law, there was no reason to think that they would be any more faithful to the king’s law. An alternative model for this verse is:

• They told him that the Jews who had disobeyed God’s commands in order to have plenty to eat would be just as willing to disobey the king and his rule.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.