But if he shows fear may be expressed as “But if he is afraid” (Good News Bible) or “But if he hesitates because he is afraid.”

And camps on the other side of the river may be rendered “and he and his soldiers set up their tents on the other side of the stream.” The Greek word for river is different from the one for “stream” in the previous verse. However, both words refer to the same body of water in this context, so translators may use one word for it in both verses.

We will cross over to him and defeat him may be translated “we will cross the stream and defeat him.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• But if he and his soldiers make camp [or, set up their tents] on the other side of the stream, we will know that he is afraid to attack us. Then we will cross the stream and defeat him.”

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.