And if any of you are qualified to be enrolled in our bodyguard, let them be enrolled: Our bodyguard is literally “those who are around us.” It may refer to the king’s bodyguard, but perhaps to any government service. In view of Demetrius’ experience of being protected by Jewish soldiers (see 1Macc 11.45-48), we think the former sense is more likely (so Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, Abel, Dancy, Doran). A possible alternative model for the first half of this verse is “I will [even] accept any qualified Jews to serve as my personal guards.”

And let there be peace between us may be expressed as “Let us have peace” (Good News Bible) or “Let’s give peace a chance” (Contemporary English Version).

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.