When Bacchides saw that Alcimus was dead, he returned to the king: Bacchides saw means simply “Bacchides learned” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version helpfully render the king as “King Demetrius.”

And the land of Judah had rest for two years means the country of Judea has peace for two years (so Good News Bible). There was a lull in the constant fighting between the Jewish rebels and the Syrian authorities. We may translate “and no enemies attacked Judea for two years.”

It is not clear why Bacchides went back to Antioch; perhaps he wanted further orders from the king. He had succeeded in strengthening the Syrian position in Judea, but apparently had no reason to take further action. Perhaps he thought that Alcimus’ death would quiet things, since Alcimus’ policies had caused much of the troubles. He may also have had reason to fear that Rome might take action if he pursued his war against the Jews (see 1Macc 8.31-32). The Maccabees could not pursue the conflict without endangering the lives of the hostages that had been taken (verse 53), and since the destruction of part of the Temple complex had not progressed very far, the Temple must have been considered still usable for Jewish ritual.

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.