In the one hundred and forty-ninth year word came to Judas and his men that Antiochus Eupator was coming with a great army against Judea: The one hundred and forty-ninth year is equivalent to 163 b.c. Contemporary English Version says “the year 149 of the Greek Kingdom,” which makes the date clearer. Word came to Judas and his men may be rendered “Judas and his men heard that” or even “someone told Judas and his soldiers.” Antiochus Eupator is Antiochus~V (see 1Macc 6.17). Translators who prefer direct speech in this verse may render it as follows:

• In the year 149 [of the Syrian Kingdom] someone told Judas and his soldiers, “King Antiochus is coming with a huge number of soldiers to attack Judea.”

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.