Many from Israel came to them: Many from Israel refers to citizens of Modein, not to people from elsewhere in the country. Good News Bible gives the wrong impression. The pronoun them refers to the king’s officials.

And Mattathias and his sons were assembled: This sounds like Mattathias and his sons went to greet the officials as they came to the city. More likely, the king’s men came in and commanded the inhabitants of the town to gather together. Mattathias and his sons came along with the others.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Many of the Israelites there, including Mattathias and his sons, came together to hear what they had to say.

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.