Jehoiakim put the nobles in prison: The nobles may be rendered “the leading men of the nation” (Good News Bible) or “Judah’s most important men” (Contemporary English Version).

And seized his brother Zarius may be translated “and made his brother Zarius a prisoner.” The name of this brother appears in different forms in the Greek manuscripts. It sometimes appears as “Zarakes” rather than Zarius, but the latter name is the form commonly used today. It is usually assumed that Zarius is the same man called “Jeconiah” in verse 34, but that is not certain.

And brought him up out of Egypt: According to the parallel passage of 2 Chr 36.4, King Neco took Jehoahaz (Jeconiah) as prisoner, and carried him off to Egypt, not out of Egypt, as here. There is Greek manuscript evidence for “to Egypt” in this verse, and we will suggest using it in the model below, disagreeing with Revised Standard Version, Good News Bible, and Contemporary English Version.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• Jehoiakim put the leading men of the nation in prison. He also made his brother Zarius a prisoner, and had him taken off to* Egypt.
* Off to; some manuscripts have out of.

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.