And they stationed there a sinful people, lawless men: It is not clear whether the author is referring here to one group of people or two, and it is not known who they were. Some think sinful people and lawless men refer to the same group of people, who were Gentile soldiers from elsewhere in the kingdom, or even from outside the kingdom. This can be supported by 1Macc 6.21, where these men are joined by “ungodly Israelites.” Some think they were renegade Jews, that is, Jews who didn’t follow the Law of Moses (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). This can be supported by 1Macc 2.44, where the “sinners” and “lawless men” appear to be renegade Jews. If translators follow this understanding, it will affect their rendering of verse 37. Others think they were from both groups. We suggest the following neutral translation for this clause: “The men they stationed there were sinful, and had no regard for the Law of Moses.”

These strengthened their position: Good News Bible seems to have ignored this line. We suggest joining this clause with the next verse by saying “They strengthened [or, made even more secure] their position there….”

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.