Very soon after this: The demonstrative pronoun this refers to Timothy’s defeat, and since this clause is the beginning of a new section, we should provide this information for readers. So we may say “Not long after Timothy was defeated” (Good News Bible) or “Not long after Judas defeated Timothy.”

Lysias, the king’s guardian and kinsman: Lysias had been given responsibility for taking care of King Antiochus~V (see 1Macc 3.33). He was the young king’s guardian. He was responsible for the boy’s welfare until the boy came of age. The word kinsman is not to be taken literally, as Good News Bible does. It is an official title, as in 1Macc 10.89 and 11.31 (see the comments there).

Who was in charge of the government may be rendered “He also was running the government for the king” (Contemporary English Version).

Being vexed at what had happened: Being vexed means to be angry and frustrated. Good News Bible inserts that Lysias “heard what had happened [to Timothy],” since Very soon after this cannot lead into being vexed without the intermediate step of hearing what had happened.

Translators may follow Good News Bible‘s model for this verse. See also the model given in the discussion on verse 2.

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.