And that if any did not meet there within two or three days: This clause introduces a condition. If something did not take place, then a specific result would follow. Any is literally “he himself” (Revised Standard Version footnote), which refers to any particular man. Any may be rendered “any men.” Three days were a sufficient length of time for people to come from an area that extended no more than 60 kilometers (37 miles) from Jerusalem. The assumption is that the men would travel by day to arrive in Jerusalem no later than the third day. In some cultures it is more common to describe the passage of time in terms of nights, in which case two or three days would be rendered “two or three nights.” This clause may be rendered “If anyone did not meet there [or, in Jerusalem] within two days, or three days at the most.”

In accordance with the decision of the ruling elders: The ruling elders were the Jewish leaders. They made the decision that anyone who did not appear for the meeting should be punished as described. New English Bible says “the elders in office,” and Myers has “the presiding elders.” We may also say “those in authority.”

Their cattle should be seized for sacrifice and the men themselves expelled from the multitude of those who had returned from the captivity: For the Greek word rendered cattle, see the comments on 1 Esd 2.6-7. The men themselves expelled from the multitude of those who had returned from the captivity makes clear that anyone defying the order would no longer be considered part of the Jewish community. They would not to be allowed at the Temple services and they would lose their rights as citizens. They would be treated as foreigners. The right to impose these penalties was given to Ezra by the Persian king (see 1 Esd 8.24).

Here is an alternative model for verses 3 and 4:

• 3 The Jewish officials sent a proclamation [or, message] throughout Jerusalem and Judah, ordering that every man who had returned from captivity in Babylonia should come together [for a meeting] in Jerusalem 4 within two or three days. The ruling authorities had decided that if anyone did not come to the meeting, all their livestock would be taken and offered as sacrifices, and they themselves would no longer be considered part of the Jewish community who had returned from exile.

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.