Those of the foreigners who escaped went and reported to Lysias all that had happened: The foreigners refers to the Gentiles, who made up most, if not all, of the troops that had been defeated at Emmaus. (Some renegade Jews were among them, acting as guides; see verse 2.) So foreigners may be rendered “Gentile troops” (Good News Bible) or even “enemy soldiers” (Contemporary English Version).

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.