They took him alive and decreed that he and those who should reign after him should pay a heavy tribute: Decreed may be rendered “ordered” (Contemporary English Version) or even “forced” (Good News Bible). Those who should reign after him may be translated “his descendants” (Contemporary English Version). Good News Bible renders tribute as “taxes,” which is not exactly right, but close enough (see the comments on verse 4).

And give hostages: See the comments on 1Macc 1.10.

And surrender some of their best provinces: And surrender is literally “and separation.” The noun “separation” is usually interpreted in this verse to mean “surrender” (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version), but if that is correct, it is a unique meaning. There are difficult problems here, which will be discussed in the next verse. The phrase some of their best provinces is actually part of verse 8. The verse number 8 in Good News Bible is in the proper place.

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.