He also fortified Joppa, which is by the sea: See 1Macc 12.33-34; 14.5. Joppa, which is by the sea may be rendered “the seaport of Joppa” (Good News Bible) or “the coastal town of Joppa” (Contemporary English Version).

And Gazara, which is on the borders of Azotus: See 1Macc 13.43-48. The city of Gezer was on the southwestern border of Judea, near the city of Azotus. Good News Bible says “and the city of Gezer on the border of Azotus.” A clearer model is “and the city of Gezer on the southwestern border, which was toward [or, near] Azotus.”

Where the enemy formerly dwelt refers to military occupation. Good News Bible‘s model is adequate here, but translators may avoid its passive voice by saying “both of which the enemy had formerly controlled.”

He settled Jews there, and provided in those cities whatever was necessary for their restoration: There refers to Gezer, not Joppa. It was at Gezer that Simon started a Jewish colony. As the Good News Bible footnote indicates, the phrase rendered for their restoration can be understood to refer to rebuilding the war-torn cities or to supplying the needs of the people in these cities. Good News Bible places the latter sense in the text, which we recommend. Goldstein believes that the rare Greek word rendered restoration refers to making life ritually proper, so he translates and provided in those cities whatever was necessary for their restoration as “whatever was needed for removing impediments to pious Jewish life in those towns, he provided.” This idea is helpful, but the model is difficult to translate. We like New Jerusalem Bible‘s translation, which reads “and providing the settlers with everything they needed to set them on their feet.”

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• He also fortified the seaport city of Joppa and the city of Gezer on the border near Azotus, both of which the enemy has formerly controlled. He settled Gezer with Jews, and provided both cities with everything the people needed to make them cities fit for Jews to live in.

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.