They advanced in battle order, having their heavenly ally, for the Lord had mercy on them: Battle order refers to the formation of the Jewish troops as they marched toward the enemy. Their heavenly ally is the horseman of verse 8. Good News Bible does not translate heavenly directly, implying it clearly enough in “whom the Lord … had sent.” The Greek word for ally (as applied to a person) refers to someone who fights on your side, a comrade-in-arms. This is the same word used of God in 2Macc 10.16, where it is part of a phrase that is rendered “to fight on their side.” The translational problem for this verse is to include the clause for the Lord had mercy on them in a natural way. Good News Bible does this well, although it lengthens the verse. Other possible models for this verse are:

• So they marched toward the enemy, arranged for battle [or, in battle formation], defended by the Lord’s mercy and by the fighter that the Lord had sent them from heaven.

• … for battle, along with the fighter that the Lord, in his mercy, had sent them from heaven.

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.