So when the sun set may be expressed as “At sunset” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

Jonathan commanded his men to be alert and to keep their arms at hand so as to be ready all night for battle: Knowing that they might be attacked during the night, Jonathan ordered his men to stay awake and keep their weapons handy. In many languages Jonathan’s command will be in direct speech; for example, “Jonathan commanded his soldiers, ‘Stay awake [or, Be alert] and keep your weapons by your side so that you are ready to fight at any time during the night.’”

And he stationed outposts around the camp: Jonathan also had sentries patrol the area surrounding the camp, so that they could signal to the rest of the army if the enemy approached. It is possible to place this clause at the beginning of the verse as follows:

• At sunset, Jonathan stationed some of his soldiers all around the camp as lookouts, and he commanded the others, “Stay awake and keep your weapons by your side so that you are ready to fight at any time during the night.”

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.