But Judas, who was also called Maccabeus, and his companions secretly entered the villages: Since this verse begins a new section, it will be better to render the connector But as “About that same time” or “Meanwhile” (Contemporary English Version). For Judas, who was also called Maccabeus, see the comments on 1Macc 2.25. Good News Bible says simply “Judas Maccabeus.” The author has a reason for saying it as he does. For the rest of the book, he will sometimes refer to “Judas” and sometimes refer to “Maccabeus.” Here he simply tells us that the man was known by two names. Good News Bible, on the other hand, will never refer to the hero simply as “Maccabeus.” Instead it will sometimes say “Judas” and sometimes “Judas Maccabeus.” So the clause who was also called Maccabeus is unnecessary for Good News Bible. If translators have not decided by now how they are going to refer to this man, they should do so now and save time in the future. His companions may be rendered “his friends” (Good News Bible) or even “his followers” (Contemporary English Version). The villages are the villages of Judea, near to Jerusalem. Good News Bible renders secretly entered the villages as “went secretly from village to village,” which is a helpful model.

And summoned their kinsmen and enlisted those who had continued in the Jewish faith, and so they gathered about six thousand men: Their kinsmen, those who had continued in the Jewish faith, and about six thousand men refer to the same people, so Good News Bible combines the last half of this verse in a helpful way, saying “until they had gathered a force of about 6,000 Jewish men who had remained faithful to their religion.” A “force” is an army.

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.