He agreed, and did as he said: The pronouns are confusing here. The first pronoun He refers to Bacchides and the second one to Jonathan. This sentence may be rendered “Bacchides agreed to Jonathan’s terms [or, what Jonathan demanded].”

And he swore to Jonathan that he would not try to harm him as long as he lived: Good News Bible says “and gave him his solemn promise that he would let him live in peace the rest of his life.” This rendering shifts the focus a little. Bacchides could not guarantee that Jonathan would live in peace, only that he would leave him alone. Better models are “He gave Jonathan his solemn promise that he would not try to harm him as long as he lived,” “He solemnly promised Jonathan, ‘I won’t harm you as long as you live,’” and even “… ‘I won’t bother you 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.