Then Judas marched away from the citadel: The use of the connector Then suggests that Judas ended his attack on the fort in Jerusalem immediately after the events of the previous verse. However, he is more likely trying to get his army out of danger. So we may begin this verse with “When Judas heard about the siege of Bethzur” or “When Judas heard that the Syrians had surrounded Bethzur.” Judas marched away from the citadel may be rendered “he stopped attacking the fort in Jerusalem and led his army away.”

And encamped at Beth-zechariah may be translated “to Beth Zechariah, where he and his soldiers set up their tents.” For Beth-zechariah see the introductory comments on this section.

Opposite the camp of the king: Goldstein is probably right in translating this phrase as “blocking the road ahead of the camp [army] of the king.” Good News Bible is similar with “blocking the advance of the king’s army.” Another way to say this is “trying to stop the king and his soldiers from advancing.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• When Judas heard that the Syrians had surrounded the town of Bethzur, he stopped attacking the fort in Jerusalem and led his army to Beth Zechariah, where they encamped [or, set up their tents], trying to stop the king and his soldiers from advancing.

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.