Besides this, the Idumeans, who had control of important strongholds, were harassing the Jews: The Idumeans refers to Idumean soldiers, not soldiers from other countries (called “mercenaries” in verse 14). Strongholds are forts or fortified cities with high strong walls (see the comments on 1Macc 1.2). Hebron (1Macc 5.65) was one of the more important forts. Were harassing the Jews may be rendered “were keeping constant military pressure on the Jews” or “were constantly attacking the Jews.” This whole sentence may be translated “At the same time the Idumeans themselves were keeping constant military pressure on the Jews from several important forts [in the area]” or “At the same time Idumean soldiers themselves, who controlled some important forts, were constantly harassing the Jews.”

They received those who were banished from Jerusalem, and endeavored to keep up the war: Those who were banished from Jerusalem were Jews who sympathized with the Syrians and cooperated with their campaign to stamp out the Jewish religion. When the Maccabees controlled Jerusalem, many of these Jews fled, and were welcomed in Gentile cities. Good News Bible provides a simple and reliable model for this sentence, but another possibility is “They welcomed those people whom Judas and his soldiers had banished from Jerusalem and tried to force us to keep on fighting everywhere in the country.”

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.