He started to come with a large force: Bacchides gathered a large army, and started out south to Judea. We may translate “Then Bacchides led a large number of soldiers to Judea.”

And secretly sent letters to all his allies in Judea, telling them to seize Jonathan and his men: As he was traveling toward Judea, he sent messages to the Jews he knew would side with him, telling them to capture Jonathan personally, as well as his key men. Good News Bible‘s model may be changed slightly: “On the way [or, As he was traveling toward Judea], he sent secret letters to all his Jewish friends [or, allies], asking them to seize Jonathan and his men.”

But they were unable to do it, because their plan became known: However, the renegade Jews could not do it, because Jonathan learned of the plot.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Then Bacchides led a large army [or, a large group of soldiers] toward Judea. As he was traveling, he sent secret messages to his Jewish friends [or, allies], telling them to capture Jonathan and his men. But Jonathan learned what these men were planning to do, so they could not do it.

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.