When the Assyrians saw them: This is not simply the Assyrians; it is more precisely the Assyrian sentries, those guarding the camp. Translators may wish to say so. The guards then send word up the chain of command. This is not an entirely orderly procedure, however. Good News Translation makes it sound rather calm “they sent word … these reported….” There is no panic in the camp just yet, but there is the excitement of anticipated battle.

They sent word to their commanders: The verb sent word implies “sent word in all directions.”

Good News Translation combines generals … captains … all their officers into a simple “their superiors,” and Contemporary English Version has “every Assyrian officer.” Technically, this covers everything, but it lacks the vividness along with the stir and commotion the author has given us by picturing the news spreading rank by rank. If a translator has a number of terms in the receptor language for various levels of army commanders, those may be used here although the author seems to be using the terms without technical precision. The soldiers tell their immediate superiors, and they tell theirs, and so on.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.