The events in verses 24-44 happened at the same time as Simon’s campaign in Galilee in verses 21-23. It is helpful to point this out to the reader and begin a new paragraph here. Contemporary English Version and New English Bible introduce this verse with “Meanwhile,” and Good News Bible has “During this time.” It is also possible to begin with “While Simon and his soldiers were in Galilee.”

Judas Maccabeus and Jonathan his brother crossed the Jordan and went three days‘journey into the wilderness: In many languages it will be necessary to identify the Jordan as “the Jordan River.” For went Good News Bible has “marched,” which is appropriate for an army on the move and consistent with the Greek. “Marched for three days through the wilderness” is a good way of expressing went three days‘journey into the wilderness. For wilderness see the comments on 1Macc 2.29.

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.