So, fighting with their hands and praying to God in their hearts, they laid low no less than thirty-five thousand men: The connector So (literally “And”) introduces the next event in the story. The writer sets up a contrast here between with their hands and in their hearts. In English fighting with their hands suggests boxing, fighting with fists rather than weapons, which is not intended. It is better to say “fighting with swords in their hands” (similarly Contemporary English Version) or simply “using their swords.” Laid low means “killed” (Good News Bible). The first half of this verse may be rendered “So fighting [or, Using their swords] and praying at the same time, they killed more than 35,000 enemy soldiers.”

And were greatly gladdened by God’s manifestation: In 2Macc 3.24 the word manifestation refers to a vision, as in 2Macc 10.29-30 and 11.8-10. Here the writer is probably not talking about a miraculous vision, since he does not specifically mention it, but manifestation can still be translated in somewhat the same way as in 3.24 (see the comments there). So this clause may be rendered “The Jews were overjoyed at the way God took action [or, by God’s action]!”

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.