When Gorgias became governor of the region, he maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept on warring against the Jews: Gorgias was introduced at 2Macc 8.9 and has not been mentioned since. Mercenaries are professional soldiers who fight for any country that is willing to hire them (see the comments on 1Macc 4.35). A force of mercenaries probably included soldiers of many different nationalities. Good News Bible introduces Gorgias here as “governor of Idumea,” which is quite proper. This particular episode deals with the Idumeans, and at 2Macc 12.32 he is specifically called the governor of Idumea.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• When Gorgias became the governor of Idumea, he hired a force of soldiers to attack the Jews at any opportunity [or, whenever he could find a good opportunity].

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.