Moreover, I will take back to myself their glory: The Latin connector for Moreover may be translated “also” (Contemporary English Version). I will take back to myself their glory means God will remove his glorious presence from Israel (compare Ezek 10.4). The word glory refers to God’s splendor or magnificence. Good News Bible renders glory as “the dazzling light of my presence,” and Contemporary English Version has “my shining glory.” This clause may be rendered “I will also stop my glory from shining on the people of Israel” or “In addition, my glory [or, the dazzling light of my presence] will no longer shine on Israel.”

And will give to these others the everlasting habitations: These others refers to God’s new people (that is, Christians). The everlasting habitations does not refer to the Temple (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version), but to heaven, the dwelling place of God. The same phrase is used in Luke 16.9 (compare Eccl 12.5).

Which I had prepared for Israel is literally “which I had prepared for those” (see Revised Standard Version footnote). Revised Standard Version renders the pronoun “those” as Israel for clarity. God had prepared heaven as home for the Israelites, but now he is giving it to his new people.

New English Bible has a good translation for this verse, saying “I will withdraw the splendour of my presence from Israel, and the home that was to be theirs for ever I will give to my own people.” Here are other possible models:

• I will also stop my glory [or, the dazzling light of my presence] from shining on the people of Israel. And I will also give to these other people the eternal home [or, heaven] that I had prepared for the people of Israel.

• In addition, my glory [or, the dazzling light of my presence] will no longer shine on Israel, and I will give to these others the eternal home that I had prepared for Israel.

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.