When Judas approached the stream of water: For the stream of water, see the comments on verse 40.
He stationed the scribes of the people at the stream and gave them this command: The scribes of the people probably refers to the military officers in charge of keeping records of the troops and seeing that they were deployed properly (compare Deut 20.5-9; Josh 1.10; 3.2). Being scribes, that is, able to read and write, made them suitable for this duty. “Officers” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version) is a sufficient translation. He stationed the scribes of the people at the stream suggests that Judas gave a verbal order to these officers to stand by the stream. We may translate “he ordered his officers to stand by the stream” or “he ordered his officers, ‘Stand here by the stream.’”
Permit no man to encamp: Judas’ men were approaching Raphon after a long march. It would have been natural to pause before crossing the stream to begin the battle, but Judas’ strategy was to permit no pause at all. The men had to go straight across the stream and attack. To encamp probably means “to rest” in this context, so the whole clause may be translated “Make sure that no one stops to rest here.”
But make them all enter the battle may be rendered “but push everyone forward into battle” (similarly Good News Bible) or even “but order everyone to immediately cross the stream and attack the enemy.” Judas’ command may be given in direct speech (so Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version) or in indirect speech (so Good News Bible). A model that uses direct speech is “No one must stop to rest. Order every man to cross the stream immediately and fight the enemy.”
An alternative model for this verse is:
• When Judas and his men came close to the stream, he ordered his officers: “Stand here by the stream and make sure that no one stays behind to rest. Order every man to cross the stream immediately and fight the enemy.”
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.