And before the heights of the air were lifted up: The heights of the air refers to the height of the sky above the earth. This clause may be rendered “before the sky was set in place” or “before I set the sky in place.”

And before the measures of the firmaments were named: The measures of the firmaments refers to the definite limits God gave to the earth and the sky (compare Job 38.4-5; Wis 11.20; Sir 1.3). The sky is called a “firmament” in Gen 1, but the Hebrew word there means “something firm,” and the earth is also a “firmament.” The naming of them refers back to Gen 1.6-10. This clause may be translated “before I gave names to the different parts of earth and sky.”

And before the footstool of Zion was established: Here Zion refers to the hill in Jerusalem where the Temple stood. According to rabbinic thought, the Temple on Mount Zion is another thing God made before he created the world. The footstool of Zion is an image for God’s reign from Mount Zion (compare Psa 99.5; 132.7; Isa 66.1). It pictures God sitting on a throne with a footstool ruling the world from Mount Zion. This clause may be expressed as “before I put Mount Zion in its place to be my footstool [or, where I place my feet].” A model that removes the imagery is “before I chose Mount Zion to be the place from which I rule” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

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.