After this: The demonstrative pronoun this refers to the seven days of celebration mentioned in 1 Esd 4.63. Contemporary English Version translates appropriately “After the celebration.” However, since this phrase begins a new section, it might be even more helpful to say “After the seven days’ celebration” or “After they had celebrated for seven days.”

The heads of fathers’ houses were chosen …: The Greek word for fathers may be rendered “ancestral” (New Revised Standard Version). It is not the ordinary word for “father.” The heads of fathers’ houses refers to men who were recognized as leaders of their clans within the tribes (compare 1 Esd 2.8). It is not clear whether these men were chosen from among other family leaders, or whether they were chosen to be the leaders. We will assume that they were chosen to be the leaders. The author does not tell use who did the choosing, but many translators will have to specify this. Contemporary English Version does so by saying “the Jews chose some of the leaders of their clans.” Another possible model is “the Jews chose certain men to be leaders of family groups.”

To go up is an idiomatic reference for going to Jerusalem (see the comments on 1 Esd 2.5).

According to their tribes, with their wives and sons and daughters, and their menservants and maidservants, and their cattle: All the Jews listed in this section were from the tribes of Judah and Levi, and perhaps from the tribe of Benjamin (see 1 Esd 5.66; 9.5). Their menservants and maidservants refers to the servants belonging to the Jewish families. Good News Bible combines these terms, saying “slaves.” This is possible, but “servants” would be better here. The Greek word for cattle is a general term covering, in this case, camels, horses, mules, and donkeys (see verse 43; see also the comments on 1 Esd 2.6-7). Good News Bible says “animals,” which is a good term. Another possible general expression is “domestic animals.”

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• After the celebration [or, After they had celebrated for seven days], the Jews chose certain men to be leaders of family groups within the tribes as they all traveled to Jerusalem. These men were to take with them their entire families, as well as their servants and their animals.

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.