They organized an army: The word army may suggest too formal an organization. “Fighting force” might be a better expression to describe this group. The whole clause may be rendered “They formed themselves into a fighting force” or “… a group capable of fighting.”

And struck down sinners in their anger and lawless men in their wrath: Sinners and lawless men refer to the same group, so Good News Bible combines these expressions, saying “renegade Jews.” They are the Hellenizers of 1Macc 1.11-15 (compare 1Macc 1.34). Mattathias’ rebel band is prepared to defend the Torah not only against the Gentile enemy, but against Jews who were willing to violate the Torah in an attempt to appear cosmopolitan and stylish or simply to save their lives. An alternative model for this part of the verse is “and angrily struck out against [or, vented their anger against] those sinful Jews who had disregarded the Law [of Moses].”

The survivors fled to the Gentiles for safety may be expressed as “Those who could escape them [or, Mattathias’ armed men] fled to the Gentiles for protection.”

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.