They all ran together, both small and great: The “elders” are the ones called for, but the Greek says literally “everyone, small and great” came. This means absolutely everyone (see verse 4). New American Bible has “All the people, from the least to the greatest”; this is stated more idiomatically by Moore with “everyone, regardless of status.” The picture, however, is one of great excitement, not one of sociological commentary, so Good News Translation‘s “young and old” serves the purpose just as well. Other languages will find other equally adequate ways of amplifying “everyone.”

For it was unbelievable that she had returned: “No one could believe that Judith had come back” is well stated in Good News Translation, but New English Bible is also good: “… hardly able to believe that Judith had returned.” Contemporary English Version expands it a bit with “no one could believe that Judith had returned safely.”

They opened the gate and admitted them, and they kindled a fire for light, and gathered around them: There is pronoun trouble in the rest of the verse. In the first part of the sentence They is clearly enough the people in town; them refers to the two women, and this needs to be made clear since the maid has not been in focus. The same applies to they … them in the last part of the sentence. Contemporary English Version‘s model for the final part of the verse is helpful:

• They opened the gate and greeted Judith and her servant woman. Someone started a bonfire, and everyone gathered around the two women.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Judith. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.