Then Maccabeus and his men were glad, and they besieged the fort for four days: Judas was happy to have his enemy caught in such a hopeless situation. New English Bible has “Maccabaeus and his men welcomed this, and for four days they laid siege to the place.” For Good News Bible and New Jerusalem Bible the verb phrase were glad refers to the manner in which they conducted the siege, so Good News Bible has “besieged … with great enthusiasm,” and New Jerusalem Bible says “eagerly besieged.” We prefer New English Bible‘s approach, and adapt it in the following model for this verse:

• Judas [Maccabeus] and his men were delighted at this, and they kept the fort surrounded for four days.

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.