All the men of Judah and Benjamin refers to the Jewish men who were living in the geographical area of those two tribes of Israel, as Good News Translation makes explicit. The Hebrew text specifies “men” but then uses the general term “people” in its second reference in this verse to those who gathered together (see Ezra 1.3). Revised Standard Version follows the Hebrew usage. New Revised Standard Version translates inclusively with “all the people of Judah and Benjamin” (similarly Contemporary English Version), but most versions translate as Revised Standard Version has done.

Assembled at Jerusalem within three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: The people fulfilled the instructions that they should assemble “within three days” in verse 8 above. The precise date of the assembly is given. It took place on the twentieth day of the ninth month, the month also known as Kislev. This was in the third week of December during the rainy season in the middle of winter (see “Translating Ezra and Nehemiah,” pages 25-26).

All the people sat: The text says that the people who had gathered together sat in the square. New International Version says they “were sitting,” while New Jerusalem Bible says they “sat down.” Good News Translation and Bible en français courant interpret the verb to mean that the people “assembled” and not necessarily that they were all sitting down.

Open square before the house of God: This is the same place where Ezra was praying in verse 1. This was an open area in front of the Temple where a large group of people could assemble. It is sometimes referred to as an “open courtyard” or a “plaza.”

The people were trembling for two reasons: because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. Two different words are used in Hebrew translated “because.” The first word ʿal indicates an inward emotional experience and the second one min refers to an outward physical experience. The matter or “affair” (davar in Hebrew) of concern to the people was the issue of intermarriage. They were afraid of impending punishment for this sin and the possibility that they might have to send away their foreign wives and children. The second reason for trembling was the heavy rain, which is literally “rains,” a plural form that indicates intensity. The word is not the usual word for “rain” but a word that refers to “heavy rains” or “violent rains.”

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .