It became known to Judas that Nicanor had come to him with treacherous intent: The narrative is not really clear, but we must assume that the meeting between Nicanor and Judas in verse 29 took place without incident, but that another meeting was set up. It must have been before such a second meeting that Judas learned of Nicanor’s real intentions. This can be said more clearly as follows: “Judas later found out that when Nicanor had come to meet him, he was actually plotting against him.”

And he was afraid of him and would not meet him again: Afraid does not convey quite the right idea. It is not exactly that Judas, after all his brave acts, was now suddenly fearful. Rather, he realized that being around Nicanor was dangerous, and he had better sense than to risk it.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Judas later learned that when Nicanor came to meet him, he was actually plotting against him. He then realized that Nicanor was dangerous, and he refused to meet with him again.

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.