And the Gentiles throughout Judea, who had fled before Judas, flocked to join Nicanor: As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, there is some question about the Greek text here. We recommend following the Greek text, as found in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible, with no footnote. The first half of this verse may be rendered “There were foreigners [or, Gentiles] all over Judea who had fled from Judas. They now rushed to join Nicanor [or, Nicanor’s army].”

Thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves: Good News Bible provides a good model here. Another possibility is “because they thought that they would benefit from any misfortune or disaster that the Jews suffered [or, Nicanor caused the Jews to suffer].”

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.