These are the ten tribes which were led away from their own land into captivity in the days of King Hoshea, whom Shalmaneser the king of the Assyrians led captive: This sentence refers to the Assyrian conquest of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722–721 B.C. Hoshea was the last king of that kingdom. He ruled 732–722 B.C. Shalmaneser V ruled Assyria 727–722 B.C. For the Assyrians, see the comments on 1 Esd 5.69. For the translator’s convenience in rendering these names, we point out that all these names occur in 2 Kgs 17.1-6. This sentence may be rendered “These are the ten tribes that Shalmanezer the king of Assyria captured when King Hoshea ruled Israel.”

He took them across the river, and they were taken into another land: The river is the Euphrates (see 1 Esd 1.25). Another land refers to Assyria, which was east of the Euphrates.

Good News Bible restructures this verse, so that it is easier to understand. Another possible model is:

• These are the ten tribes that King Shalmanezer of Assyria captured when King Hoshea ruled Israel. He led them away to a foreign land east of the Euphrates River.

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.