Then Jonathan set forth and traveled beyond the river and among the cities: Set forth may be rendered “marched with his army” (Good News Bible) or even “left Judea and led his army” (Contemporary English Version). The river may point to either the Jordan or the Euphrates, but the phrase beyond the river refers to the province of Coelesyria (see the comments on 1Macc 7.8 and 10.69). Translators may say “Greater Syria” (Good News Bible) or “the southwest part of the Syrian Kingdom.”

And all the army of Syria gathered to him as allies: All the army of Syria refers to the soldiers who had served under Demetrius~II until he dismissed them. These men had been scattered (verse 38), but as Jonathan continued his march, they gathered to help him. It will be helpful to make this clear by saying “and all the soldiers whom Demetrius~II had sent home joined him as allies [or, came to help him].”

When he came to Askalon, the people of the city met him and paid him honor: When the Syrian soldiers joined his army, Jonathan felt confident enough to attack the Philistine cities southwest of Judea. When is better rendered “So.” The people of Askalon had welcomed Jonathan earlier (see 1Macc 10.86). An alternative model for this sentence is “So Jonathan took his soldiers to the town of Ascalon, where the people welcomed him and showed him great honor [or, face].”

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.