For verses 41-43 compare the parallel passages of Ezra 2.64-67 and Neh 7.66-69. Translators may elect to present these verses in list form, as in Good News Bible, or in a regular paragraph. The latter seems preferable since this list is not long, and covers animals as well as people.

All those of Israel, twelve or more years of age, besides menservants and maidservants, were forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty: This clause refers to the total number of Jews who returned from exile to Judah, not counting the servants and musicians. We suggest adding information about the return to the homeland here. For menservants and maidservants, see the comments on 1 Esdras 5.1.

Good News Bible renders musicians and singers as “Male and female musicians,” based on the parallel passages of Ezra 2.65 and Neh 7.67. We prefer the Revised Standard Version translation here. These people played and sang for social occasions; they were a different group from the Temple musicians listed in verse 27. Like the servants, they served the people who returned to Judah.

Camels … horses … mules … asses: The animals that are listed were for riding and carrying burdens. Camels, as referred to here, were dromedaries. They had one hump and were capable of traveling long distances especially over dry sandy terrain. They could be ridden and they could carry big loads at a fairly high speed. They can be described as “large load-carrying animals of the desert.” Horses were used in battle and were ridden by kings. A horse may be called an “animal for riding.” Mules are the offspring of a horse and a donkey. They were used especially for riding but also for carrying loads. They can be compared to big donkeys. Asses or “donkeys” are smaller than horses and mules. They could be ridden, but they were mostly used for carrying loads. They may be called “load-carrying animals.” Some languages may refer to mules and donkeys by the same word. Perhaps they may then be included together as “two kinds of donkeys.” If mules and asses are combined, then the total number for the two also needs to be combined, which is 6,770.

In some languages words may not exist for all these animals. Words must then be borrowed to refer to these animals or compound words can be formed to describe them. Another solution is to compare them to an animal that is known or simply describe them and add what they are called in another language that is known to the receptor audience. If the animals are not known, illustrations can be included in the translation to show what they look like and an explanation can be given in footnotes or in the glossary.

An alternative model for verses 41-43 is:

• 41-42 In all, 42,360 Jews at least twelve years old left for Judah, not counting 7,337 servants and 245 musicians and singers. 43 They took with them 435 camels, 7,036 horses, 245 mules, and 5,525 donkeys.

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.