And they kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days: The feast of unleavened bread was a week-long festival following Passover (see Exo 12.15-20; Lev 23.6-7; Num 28.17-25; Deut 16.8; see also the comments on 1 Esd 1.19). The people were to stay in a condition of purity for another seven days after the Passover. This was symbolized by eating unleavened bread (see the comments on 1 Esd 1.10-11). Leaven or yeast was a sign of impurity because food with leaven spoils. Unleavened bread was used during the Passover and this particular festival.

Rejoicing before the Lord: The Festival of Unleavened Bread was always a joyful occasion, but observance of this one was especially so, for the reason given in the next verse. Rejoicing before the Lord implies rejoicing in the Lord’s presence. This clause may be expressed in terms of worshiping or honoring God.

An alternative model for this verse that ties in closely with the next verse is:

• They also observed [or, celebrated] the seven-day Festival [or, Fiesta] of Unleavened Bread, happy as they worshiped the Lord….

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.