For the battle at Ephron, see 1Macc 5.46-51.

After the rout and destruction of these: Contemporary English Version correctly connects this phrase with the previous verse, saying “and destroyed both the temple and the town” (similarly Good News Bible).

He marched also against Ephron, a fortified city where Lysias dwelt with multitudes of people of all nationalities The Greek text of here is difficult. There are a number of problems, but the principal problem is that many manuscripts do not have the words where Lysias dwelt. Some Latin manuscripts have “Lysanias,” but even if Lysias is correct, there is no certainty that this is the same Lysias as appears elsewhere in the book. Translators may certainly follow Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible if they like, but our preference is to follow Kappler and Hanhart’s Greek text and omit the phrase. A model that follows this text is “Then Judas and his men attacked Ephron, a fortified city where people of many nationalities lived.” We also suggest adding the following footnote: “Some manuscripts add and where Lysias [or, Lysanias] lived.”

Stalwart young men took their stand before the walls and made a vigorous defense may be rendered “Strong young men stood in front of the walls of Ephron. They defended the city bravely.”

And great stores of war engines and missiles were there: For war engines, see the comments on 1Macc 5.30. The Greek word for missiles refers to anything that can be thrown, such as spears and arrows (see the comments on 2Macc 5.3).

Good News Bible‘s translation for the last two sentences of this verse is quite adequate, but we prefer to reverse them as follows for a better connection with the next verse:

• Inside the city were stored [or, they stored] large amounts of weapons and other military equipment. Outside the walls they had placed strong young men. These men fought bravely….

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.