The focus of the story now returns to the Syrian army, so translators should begin a new paragraph here (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version).

Then the army of Bacchides marched out from the camp: Instead of the army of Bacchides, the Greek says simply “the army.” It is helpful to make clear which army is in view here. The camp refers to where the Syrian soldiers had pitched their tents. This clause may be rendered “Bacchides’ army marched out of its camp” or “Bacchides led his army out of camp” (Contemporary English Version).

And took its stand for the encounter means that each segment of the Syrian army moved into the battle position planned for it; every unit was in its proper place. This clause may be rendered “and they took up positions for the battle that was soon to start” or “and he [Bacchides] had his soldiers take up positions to get ready to fight the Jews.”

The cavalry was divided into two companies, and the slingers and the archers went ahead of the army, as did all the chief warriors: These clauses describe the battle formation of the Syrian army. On both sides of the main army was a unit of cavalry, soldiers on horseback. In between, the army marched forward in three groups. First, came the chief warriors (Good News Bible “shock troops,” Contemporary English Version “best troops”). These were Bacchides’ most experienced soldiers. Behind them were the slingers (those with slings and stones), and behind them were the foot soldiers armed with swords. As the army advanced, the archers and slingers would begin sending their stones and arrows into enemy ranks in an attempt to break them up and kill as many as they could. The shock troops, the most experienced, hardened, and bravest men, would then lead the infantry charge as the slingers and archers fell back to reload. The shock troops would inflict great damage on the enemy’s front lines, as the rest of the foot soldiers caught up with the battle and engaged the whole army. The slingers and archers, ready to sling and let arrows fly again, could then aim over the battle lines and hope to hit the stragglers of the enemy or those in retreat. Meanwhile, the cavalry, on both sides, could contain the fight and attempt to break enemy ranks from the two sides, while protecting their own infantry from attack from the side.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Bacchides led his soldiers out of their camp, and he had them take up positions to get ready to fight the Jews. He divided his cavalry [or, horse soldiers] into two groups. His best troops were in the front, followed by men who were experts with bows or slings [or, shooting arrows with bows or hurling rocks with slings].

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.