Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, and Contemporary English Version begin a new paragraph here, since a new event occurs in the story.

Then there united with them a company of Hasideans: Then may be rendered “About this time” (Contemporary English Version). Them refers to “Mattathias and his friends” (Good News Bible). The Hasideans appear here for the first time in history, although the text clearly assumes that the group already existed. They were a Jewish sect or party, noted for their devotion to the Law of Moses as an authority for Jewish life and practice. Many scholars believe that the Pharisees of the New Testament period derived from them. Others point to the Essenes, the community that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls, as their spiritual descendants. Still others think it possible that the Hasideans gave rise to both groups. The word Hasideans comes from the Hebrew word hasidim, meaning “pious ones.” In this verse (see also 1Macc 7.13) the Hasideans are distinguished from the Maccabees themselves, but in 2Macc 14.6 Judas Maccabeus is called the leader of the Hasideans. Rather than give the group an unfamiliar name, Good News Bible describes them as “a group of devout and patriotic Jews.” This is acceptable, although “a certain group of…” would be better, to indicate that these people were recognized as a particular group, not just a chance gathering of good Jews. An alternative model for the first clause of this verse is “About this time Mattathias and his followers were joined by a group of Hasideans [or, a certain group of devout and patriotic Jews].”

Mighty warriors of Israel: This phrase does not describe the Hasideans as “the strongest and bravest men in Israel” (Good News Bible). It simply says that they were brave and strong. “Brave fighting men of Israel” would be a good translation.

Every one who offered himself willingly for the law may be rendered “all of whom were ready to die defending the Law of Moses.”

Alternative models for this verse are:

• Then [or, About this time] Mattathias and his followers were joined by a certain group of devout and patriotic Jews [or, a group called the Hasideans]. They were brave fighting men of Israel, all of whom were ready to die defending the Law of Moses [or, the Jewish faith].

• Then a certain group of devout and patriotic Jews [or, a group called the Hasideans] came and joined Mattathias and his followers. They were….

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.