But Maccabeus gathered his men together, to the number of six thousand: Revised Standard Version makes a serious error by beginning this verse with the connector But. Understanding the Greek conjunction here that way suggests that the men of verses 14-15 are not the same men as in verse 16, that those who were selling their goods were almost in the same category as the cowards who simply ran away. This may be, but if so, it is not clear. It goes back to the question of why some of Judas’ men sold their possessions. We believe the men of verses 14-15 probably are the men of verse 16, so we indicated this at the beginning of verse 14 by saying “The others.” Translators may simply begin this verse with no connector.

And exhorted them not to be frightened by the enemy and not to fear the great multitude of Gentiles who were wickedly coming against them, but to fight nobly: Goldstein suggests translating the indirect speech in verses 16b-17 as Judas’s own words, which we recommend. The Greek itself shifts to direct discourse at verse 18. It will be easier for translators to keep it in one style throughout this passage. Not to be frightened and not to fear are similar in meaning, so these two phrases may be combined. Good News Bible keeps both, saying “not to be frightened or flee in panic” (see also the model below). Wickedly may be rendered “unjustly”; Good News Bible rightly translates “without cause.” Fight nobly may be expressed as “fight bravely.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Judas [Maccabeus] brought 6,000 of his men together, and encouraged them. “Don’t let the enemy frighten you,” he said. “Yes, a huge number of Gentile soldiers are going to attack us without [just] cause, but you must stand up to [or, resist] them and fight bravely.

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.