And Judas kept rallying the laggards and encouraging the people all the way till he came to the land of Judah: As this large body of people was on the move, many became tired and discouraged. Judas tried to keep up their spirits, especially those who were falling behind on the march (laggards; Good News Bible “stragglers”). So this verse may be rendered:

• All along the way Judas kept rounding up those who were falling behind and trying to keep everyone in good spirits until they [finally] reached the land of Judea.

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.