With these words he filled them with good courage and made them ready to die for their laws and their country: When Judas finished talking, his men were courageous and eager to fight for their religion and their country. At the beginning of this new section Good News Bible helpfully renders the pronoun he as “Judas” and the pronoun them as “his men.” Filled them with good courage may be rendered “made his men courageous to fight.” Good News Bible translates laws as “religion,” which is good. The Jewish Law was the heart of the religion.

Then he divided his army into four parts: Good News Bible has a small problem here by rendering parts as “divisions.” In English a “division” is a technical term for a military unit of very large size, much larger than 1,500 men (see the next verse). It is better to say “units” or “groups” (Contemporary English Version) are better models. Most translators will find it helpful to follow Good News Bible by bringing the numerical strength of these units forward in the next verse (see also the model for verses 21-23 at the end of the discussion on verse 23).

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.