army

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek and Latin that is translated as “army” in English is translated in Chichewa as “group of warriors.” (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 5:40

We recommend that translators begin a new paragraph here (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible).

Now as Judas and his army drew near to the stream of water: It is not necessary to keep both stream and water, since a stream by definition has water. However, the author needed to specify that this seasonal stream did have water at the time. For drew near to the stream of water, Good News Bible says “came closer to the water.” It would be a little better to say “came near to the stream.” Contemporary English Version has “took up their positions near the stream.”

Timothy said to the officers of his forces: In English the officers of his forces may be rendered simply “his officers” (Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible), since officers, in a military context, are by definition commanders of forces.

If he crosses over to us first, we will not be able to resist him, for he will surely defeat us: Compare 1~Sam 14.8-9. Timothy is probably reasoning that in the battle to come, the advantage will lie with the offense and the defenders will be at a disadvantage. If he crosses over to us first may be expressed as “If Judas crosses the stream to attack us.” It is of course understood that if Timothy crosses the stream, he attacks first. We will not be able to resist him may be expressed as “we will not be able to repel [or, turn back] his soldiers” or even “we will not be able to fight his soldiers.” New Jerusalem Bible translates he will surely defeat us more accurately by saying “he will have a great advantage over us” (similarly Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Abel).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• As Judas and his soldiers came close to the stream, Timothy said to his officers, “He will have a big advantage over us if he crosses the stream to attack us [first]. We won’t be able to turn back [or, repel] his soldiers.

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.