He died in the one hundred and forty-sixth year: The one hundred and forty-sixth year is a date, not Mattathias’ age; it corresponds to the year 166 b.c. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version move this clause to the end of the verse, which works well, but it is not necessary. Good News Bible translates “This happened in the year 146,” and Contemporary English Version has “This happened in the year 146 of the Syrian Kingdom.”

And was buried in the tomb of his fathers at Modein: In this context buried does not mean Mattathias’ corpse was placed beneath the earth, but only placed in the family tomb. A tomb would have consisted of a cavern in a limestone cliff, perhaps cut out by hand, with recesses cut into the walls for laying out bodies. It could have been below ground level, or a person could have walked into it. The tomb of his fathers may be expressed as “the family tomb,” “the family burying place” or even “with his ancestors.” For this whole clause Contemporary English Version has “His family buried him in their tomb near the town of Modein.”

And all Israel mourned for him with great lamentation may be rendered “and all the Israelites [or, Jews] mourned greatly for him.”

This verse may be translated as follows:

• This happened in the year 146 [or, one hundred and forty-six] of the Syrian Kingdom. He was buried in the family tomb at [the town of] Modein, and everyone in Israel went into deep mourning [or, mourned greatly] for him.

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.