Then some one came to him in Persia and reported that the armies which had gone into the land of Judah had been routed: Good News Bible renders some one as “a messenger,” which simply borrows information from the verb reported and puts it into a subject noun. Contemporary English Version and New Jerusalem Bible nicely translate in Persia as “while he was still in Persia.” Reported may be rendered simply “said” with either indirect speech or direct speech after it. Alternative models for this verse are:

• While he was still in Persia, a messenger brought him word [or, said] that his armies in Judea had been defeated.

• While he was still in Persia, a messenger came to him and said, “Your soldiers that you sent into Judea have been defeated [or, The Jews have defeated the soldiers you sent to 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.