Revised Standard Version keeps verses 18-22 as part of the paragraph beginning at verse 16, while Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version begin a new paragraph at this point. We recommend that translators follow Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version, since there is a change in speakers here.

Judas replied, “It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few: The Greek verb translated be hemmed in implies entrapment rather than overpowering, as in Good News Bible, and that is really more descriptive of the tactics that Judas will employ. He intends to catch the enemy soldiers as they try to come up the steep, narrow pass. An possible model for the beginning of this verse is “Judas said to his soldiers, ‘A small group can easily trap a larger one.’”

For in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few: The connector for introduces the reason for Judas’ previous statement, so it may be rendered “because.” Good News Bible leaves it implied. Heaven is the author’s way of avoiding the words “God” or “Lord.” Good News Bible‘s translation of this clause is wrong; it is not a matter of rescuing Judas’ men. This clause means that God gives victory (saves), and he can do it just as easily with a few men as with many. Possible models are “Heaven [or, The One in Heaven] can give victory to a few men just as easily as to a big number” or “Heaven [or, The One in Heaven] can help a few men to have victory over their enemies as easily as many men.”

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.