But his men stood fast, as Jonathan commanded: For stood fast, Good News Bible has “stood firm,” and Contemporary English Version translates “held their ground.” We may also say “refused to flee from the enemy.”

And the enemy’s horses grew tired: Good News Bible says “and the attacking cavalry grew tired.” The Greek text simply says the horses became tired, not the “cavalry” (that is, men and horses). However, this may be a minor point, since the next verse specifies that “the cavalry was exhausted.”

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.