καὶ ἐξέκλινεν Ιουδας εἰς Ἄζωτον γῆν ἀλλοφύλων καὶ καθεῖλεν τοὺς βωμοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ γλυπτὰ τῶν θεῶν αὐτῶν κατέκαυσεν πυρὶ καὶ ἐσκύλευσεν τὰ σκῦλα τῶν πόλεων καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν εἰς γῆν Ιουδα.
68But Judas turned aside to Azotus in the land of the Philistines; he tore down their altars, and the carved images of their gods he burned with fire; he plundered the towns and returned to the land of Judah.
The term that is transliterated as “Philistines” in English is translated in American Sign Language with a sign that signifies the helmet the Philistine warriors wore was decorated with feather-like objects. (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Philistines” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
The name that is transliterated as “Azotus” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts “protection” (a possible meaning of the name and the fact that as a port city it gave protection to many sailors). With the right hand the geographical shape of the coast is shown. (Source: Missão Kophós )
“Azotus” in Libras (source )
The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)
“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España
See also Judah.
But Judas turned aside to Azotus in the land of the Philistines: The connector But is not necessary. Translators may omit it (so Good News Bible). It will be necessary in many languages to add that Judas turned aside “from Marisa.” Although some priests attacked people in Marisa, it was not Judas’ main goal. For Azotus see the comments on 1Macc 4.15. This town was northwest of Marisa. An alternative model for this whole clause is “Judas and his soldiers turned aside from Marisa and went to Azotus in the land of the Philistines.”
He tore down their altars: For altars see 1Macc 1.47.
And the graven images of their gods he burned with fire: Graven images were idols carved out of wood or stone. The graven images of their gods may be expressed as “the images of their gods” (Good News Bible) or “the carved idols representing their gods.” Again it is not necessary in most languages to say with fire.
He plundered the cities and returned to the land of Judah: Since Azotus was a town in Philistia, it might be helpful to translate here “he and his men plundered [or, took the valuable possessions from] the nearby towns and returned to Judea.”
An alternative model for this verse is:
• Judas and his soldiers turned aside from Marisa and went to Azotus in the land of the Philistines, where they tore down the altars and burned the carved images [or, idols] representing their gods. Then they plundered [or, took all the valuable possessions from] the nearby towns and returned to Judea.
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.