He was renowned to the ends of the earth: The phrase to the ends of the earth means “all over the world” (compare 1Macc 1.3), so this line may be rendered “People all over the world knew about him.”

He gathered in those who were perishing: Compare Isa 11.12. An American Translation says “and rallied those who were perishing” (similarly New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible), which is an appealing translation, but this line more likely refers to Judas bringing the Jews who had been living in Galilee and Gilead to Judah (1Macc 5.23, 45). Other possible approaches are “He brought people who were in danger of death to safety” and “He rescued people who were in danger of death [or, being slaughtered].”

It is entirely possible that the last line of this verse is the result of a scribal error. The three Greek words involved are almost identical with the first three Greek words of the next verse (literally “And Apollonius gathered”). However, there is no manuscript evidence for their omission, so they should be translated as part of the text.

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.