Send now a hundred talents of silver and two of his sons as hostages, so that when released he will not revolt against us, and we will release him: Good News Bible translates a hundred talents of silver as “6,000 pounds of silver,” but it is more accurately rendered “7,500 pounds of silver” (see the comments on talents at 1Macc 11.28). Contemporary English Version has “one hundred thousand pieces of silver.” For hostages see the comments on 1Macc 1.10. The payment of silver was supposedly intended to satisfy Jonathan’s debt; the taking of the hostages was to ensure that Jonathan, once released, would not rebel against Trypho. This is made fairly clear in Good News Bible‘s translation. The clause we will release him is placed at the beginning of the verse by Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version. Contemporary English Version‘s translation of this verse is clear and simple:

• I’ll set him free as soon as you send me one hundred thousand pieces of silver and two of his sons as hostages. That way he won’t rebel against me anymore.

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.