And when with many words he had confirmed his solemn promise to restore them unharmed, they let him go, for the sake of saving their brethren: Good News Bible‘s model for this verse is weak. Goldstein is better with “After he used all manner of means to get them to believe his promise that he would restore the prisoners unhurt, they released him in order to save their brothers,” and so is New English Bible with “He pledged himself over and over again to restore these hostages safe and sound; and so they let him go in order to save their relatives.” Here is another possible model:

• He promised over and over that he would let their relatives go free, until finally, to save their relatives, Judas’ men let him go.

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.