When Jonathan learned of this, he sent ambassadors to him to make peace with him and obtain release of the captives: Jonathan did not want Bacchides to leave the country without establishing terms with him. Not only did he want the prisoners of war to be returned, but he also desired an agreement that Bacchides would not come back a third time. Ambassadors does not refer to government officials with official responsibilities, but to “messengers” (Contemporary English Version) sent by Jonathan with authority to negotiate an agreement with Bacchides. So translators should use a word meaning “messengers.” The captives must refer to prisoners of war, Jewish soldiers taken prisoner during the battle (see verse 72). If Jonathan was expecting the return of the Jewish hostages held in Jerusalem (see verse 53), he was disappointed. They were returned later (see 1Macc 10.6-9).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• … but when Jonathan found out that Bacchides was about to leave Judea, he sent him some messengers who said, “Let’s make peace. Please set free our people whom you have captured.”

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.