Jonathan learned that there was an ambush behind him, for they surrounded his army and shot arrows at his men from early morning till late afternoon: When the battle began, the 1,000 cavalry attacked from the rear, and Jonathan realized that he had walked into an ambush. Translators must take care that readers will be able to understand who is being referred to here; pronouns must be used with caution. The author does not provide a detailed account of the battle, but apparently the cavalry surrounded Jonathan (so New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Abel). The attack by cavalry arrows was to kill as many as possible, making the later work of the infantry easier. Jonathan would have arranged his men in an outward-facing circle or square, using their shields to deflect the arrows. At this point the Syrian infantry could not participate without putting themselves in danger from the arrows shot by the cavalry. For shot arrows at his men, Good News Bible has “enemy arrows rained down on them,” which is a vivid way of expressing in English what is happening, but Revised Standard Version‘s translation may provide a more workable model. The Greek word for arrows may include javelins (short spears) as well as arrows shot from bows. From early morning till late afternoon may be rendered “from sunrise to sundown.”

An alternative model for this verse that continues the one for verse 78 is:

• … and there Jonathan realized that he had been led [or, walked] into a trap. The Syrian cavalry surrounded his army, shooting arrows at them from morning until evening.

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.