And behold, the Gentiles are assembled against us to destroy us: The effect of And behold is to point out that what follows, the coming Gentile attempt to destroy Israel, is something in addition to what has already happened. Good News Bible does not express it, but something is needed, such as “And now.” The whole clause may be rendered “Not only that, but now the Gentiles have come to fight against us and destroy us.”

Thou knowest what they plot against us: Good News Bible may serve as a model for this clause.

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.