We recommend inserting a paragraph break here, as in Revised Standard Version.

When he approached the ascent of Beth-horon: He approached means “Seron and his soldiers approached.” The ascent of Beth-horon and “the descent of Beth-horon” in verse 24 refer to the same geographical feature, which is a mountain pass descending about 213 meters (about 700 feet) from the heights of the town of Upper Beth-horon to the town of Lower Beth-horon below; it is mentioned in Josh 10.10. The pass is narrow and steep. Seron approached from the west, toward Lower Beth-horon, intending to climb up the pass (the ascent) to the heights, and then advance toward Jerusalem. Judas got to Upper Beth-horon first, in order to prevent Seron’s forces from coming up.

Judas went out to meet him with a small company: This clause does not mean that Judas and Seron went to meet for a parley. Judas and his small group of men went to meet Seron’s soldiers in battle. So we may say “Judas led a small group of men down to attack them [Seron and his soldiers].”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• When Seron and his soldiers approached the steep path going up from Beth-horon, Judas and his small group of men went down to attack them.

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.