In the first month of the one hundred and fifty-second year they encamped against Jerusalem: The first month in the Hebrew calendar is Nisan (from mid-March to mid-April). The one hundred and fifty-second year corresponds to 160 b.c. (see the comments on 1Macc 1.10). They encamped against Jerusalem may be expressed as “they set up their tents opposite [or, outside] the city of Jerusalem.”

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.