The rest of the horsemen were stationed on either side, on the two flanks of the army is literally “And the rest of the horsemen he stationed….” But who is “he”? Good News Bible and New English Bible say it is “Lysias” but Lysias has not been named in connection with this action. He was last mentioned in verse 17, but he is surely included among the men mentioned in verse 28, and may well have been in charge. Traduction œcuménique de la Bible and Abel read “The king,” although it is hard to imagine a child devising this strategy. The passive voice is a good solution to this problem, but those translators who are forced to use the active may say “Lysias [or, The king] placed the rest of his cavalry … ” or “The remainder of the cavalry the commander posted…” (Goldstein).

Here is the picture of the Syrian army’s battle formation: a long line of battle was formed. There were many infantry units, with 32 elephants placed at intervals within the line, each one surrounded by cavalry. According to the author’s figures (see verses 30 and 35), 16,000 cavalrymen were stationed with the elephants in the line. That left 4,000 others to guard the two ends (flanks or sides) of the line.

To harass the enemy: The cavalry stationed at the ends of the battle line had two functions. One was to harass the enemy. The Greek word used here can be rendered a number of ways. An American Translation translates “threatening the enemy.” The cavalry troops on the flanks were to keep the enemy off balance, to be a constant threat or distraction to the main force of the opposing army. So to harass the enemy or “harassing the enemy” (Good News Bible) is a good translation. Contemporary English Version says “to attack the Jewish forces whenever they could,” which is also possible.

While being themselves protected by the phalanxes: The other function of the cavalry posted on the flanks was to protect the infantry units from attack from the side. This latter function is not clear in the Greek text, and seems to have been misunderstood by the scribes. The phalanxes (that is, infantry units) could not have offered protection to the exposed cavalry on the flanks, as is said in Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible. It was the cavalry that offered protection to the infantry. We believe that translators should follow Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Abel, and Goldstein in making an adjustment here. For the last two clauses of this verse Goldstein reads “to intimidate the enemy and protect his own phalanxes.”

Alternative models for this verse are:

• The commander placed the rest of his cavalry [or, horse soldiers] on the two ends of the line, to harass [or, threaten] the enemy and at the same time protect his own groups of soldiers.

• Those cavalry [or, horse soldiers] who were not protecting the elephants, took positions on the two sides of the army, so that they could distract [or, threaten/harass] the enemy while protecting* their own foot soldiers.
* Probable text protecting; Greek being protected by.

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.