The verse "The friends, too, stole out one by one, and dismissed the assembled multitudes to their respective occupations" from 3 Maccabees 5:34 describes a scene of quiet dispersal and abandonment. Let's break it down:

"The friends, too, stole out one by one...": This refers to the people who were close to, and supposedly supporting, the subject of the chapter, most likely King Ptolemy IV Philopator. The word "stole" implies they were leaving surreptitiously, secretly, and perhaps even with a sense of guilt or shame. This indicates a loss of confidence in the subject or their cause. They didn't openly announce their departure.
"...and dismissed the assembled multitudes...": These "friends" had some authority or influence over the "assembled multitudes" which shows that they were probably advisors and officials. They were likely in charge of the assembled people and had to tell them to leave.
"...to their respective occupations.": This means that the crowds were told to return to their normal, everyday lives and jobs. The reason for the assembly was over, and the people were being released to go back to their ordinary routines.

Overall Meaning:

The verse depicts a scene where the powerful figures supporting King Ptolemy quietly abandoned the situation. The assembled people were likely gathered for something significant, but they were now being sent back to their daily lives. The situation probably broke down or turned against King Ptolemy, so his supporters are deserting him and sending the assembled people home.

Possible Context

Without reading the entire chapter, this could be happening because of:

A failed plan or decision by Ptolemy.
A loss of faith in Ptolemy's leadership.
The threat of external danger.

In general, it reflects a situation of disintegration and potential downfall for the person or group who was previously in power.