When they had applauded him in fitting manner: The referent for the pronoun they is not clear from the Greek. Most likely it refers to a delegation of Jews who went to the palace to speak to the king, but there may have been more. The Greek word translated applauded does not necessarily imply clapping hands and cheering (so Contemporary English Version); it simply means to honor, to praise, to commend. In fitting manner may be rendered “as it was fitting [or, proper] to do,” “as was only appropriate,” or even “as they should do.”

Their priests and the whole multitude shouted the Hallelujah: Translators may put their priests and the whole multitude at the beginning of the verse, if they wish, as in our models below. Shouted the Hallelujah is better translated “shouted praises to God,” although it would not be wrong to say “shouted hallelujah” in languages where Hallelujah is understood as “praise.”

And joyfully departed: Where did they leave from? The palace or Alexandria? The Greek supports either location, but in our view it makes the best sense to suppose that this clause refers to the group of Jews, however large or small, leaving the palace, and we think it best to say so.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• Then the priests and all the people praised the king, as was only appropriate. Then they shouted praises to God and joyfully left the palace.

• … Then they joyfully left the palace, shouting praises [or, hallelujahs] to God.

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.