And the Israelites, when they returned from the slaughter: Here the Israelites are obviously “the Israelite soldiers” (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version). The object of slaughter will need to be made clear in a number of languages; for example, “when they returned from killing the Assyrians.” In some languages the initial clause will be restructured radically; for example, “The Israelite soldiers finally stopped slaughtering the Assyrians, and when they returned to the Assyrian camp, they….”

Took possession of what remained may be rendered “they took everything else” (Contemporary English Version).

The villages and towns in the hill country and in the plain got a great amount of booty, for there was a vast quantity of it: Perhaps by mistake, Good News Translation has omitted reference to the settlements in the plain. It should be restored as follows: “There was so much of it that the people of the towns and villages in the hill country and in the plain also shared in the loot.”

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.