And they learned that those who had returned from captivity were building the temple for the Lord God of Israel: Good News Bible does well to make verse 67 a subordinate clause leading into verse 68, so the connector And is better rendered “When.” The Lord God of Israel may be rendered “the great ruler, the God whom Israel worships” (see the comments on 1 Esd 1.48).

So they approached Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the heads of the fathers’ houses and said to them: The verb approached means the enemies went to the Jewish leaders with a purpose; it implies more than going close to them physically. Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version say “went to.” For Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, and Jeshua (“Joshua” in Good News Bible), the High Priest, see the comments on verses 5-6. For the heads of the fathers’ houses, see 1 Esdras 5.1.

We will build with you: Since this is a request to help the Jews rebuild the Temple, it is better rendered “Let us help you rebuild the Temple” (similarly Good News Bible).

Good News Bible may be followed as a model for verses 67-68. Contemporary English Version also provides the following helpful model:

• 67 They found out that the people who had come back from Babylonia were rebuilding the temple of the Lord God of Israel. 68 So they went to Zerubbabel, Joshua, and the family leaders and said, “Let us help!

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.