When those on the left wing saw that the right wing was crushed, they turned and followed close behind Judas and his men: As Judas’ men pursued the right wing of the Syrian army, the Syrian left wing was unopposed. They closed in behind the Jews, who were then caught between the two parts of the enemy army. An alternative model for this verse is:

• When the Syrians on the left wing [or, When the rest of the Syrian army] saw that the Jews had broken through the line on the right, they turned and attacked Judas and his men from the rear.

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.