So Judas went out into all the surrounding parts of Judea may be rendered “So Judas and his soldiers went through all of Judea.”

And took vengeance on the men who had deserted: The men who had deserted are those who had left Judas’ cause and made peace with the Syrians (see the comments on verse 19). This whole clause may be translated “and took revenge on [or, paid back/punished] all the Jewish traitors [or, those men who had made peace with the Syrians].”

And he prevented those in the city from going out into the country: As Revised Standard Version‘s footnote indicates, the Greek says “and they were prevented from going out into the country.” We are not dealing here with one city, but with any town in Judea, as Good News Bible makes clear. It is not necessarily the case, though, that Judas stationed guards around each settlement in order to keep people inside and not let them out into the country. Rather, those who had reason to think Judas would do them harm probably stayed in the towns out of fear, afraid to be caught in the open country.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• So Judas and his soldiers went around the whole country of Judea taking revenge on [or, punishing] all the Jewish traitors [or, deserters]. These men became afraid to leave the towns and go out into the countryside [or, leave the safety of the towns].

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.