This is the dream that you saw, and this is its interpretation: This verse may be more simply expressed as “That is the meaning of the dream you had [or, saw].”

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.

Yet it is better to come into these things, though incurring peril, than to pass from the world like a cloud …: The textual problems pointed out by the two Revised Standard Version footnotes here can be handled as simple translational matters, so these footnotes are not needed. In this verse Ezra voices his belief that of the two groups, those who die before the end times and those who live through them, those who are living at the end are better off. In spite of the dangers, it would be better to live then than never to observe what happens at the end of time. It is better to come into these things, though incurring peril may be rendered “it is better to be living at the end, in spite of the danger.” Contemporary English Version has “I still think that those who survive these troubles will be better off.” Than to pass from the world like a cloud may be translated “than those who disappear from this world as quickly as a cloud” (Contemporary English Version).

And not to see what shall happen in the last days: The verb see here means to observe firsthand, not simply to know about the events at the end, since verse 18 says the unfortunate ones do know what will happen.

An alternative model for the first half of this verse is:

• Still, it would be better to be living at the end, in spite of all the danger, than to pass from the world like a cloud, and never see the events at the end of time.”

He answered me and said: See the comments on 2 Esd 8.37 and 12.10. This quote frame introduces verses 21-50, which give the response to Ezra’s prayer. It is not clear who the speaker is in these verses; for example, in verse 23 the speaker is clearly the angel Uriel, but in verse 32 it is God. Once again the writer makes no distinction between God and the angel who delivers God’s message. We recommend that translators follow Revised Standard Version by using the pronoun He, but it would not be incorrect to say “The angel Uriel” (Contemporary English Version). Answered me and said may be rendered simply “answered” (Good News Bible, 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.

And because he governs the times and whatever things come to pass in their seasons: We are separating this verse from the preceding one, but translators may consider joining them as Revised Standard Version does, as well as Contemporary English Version, which says “and for controlling history and all that happens.” Here is another possible model for this verse:

• He controls all our history. Everything that happens does so when he decides it is time.

And I stayed there three days: The adverb there refers to the field mentioned in verse 57 (see also 2 Esd 9.26). An alternative model for this verse is:

• So I stayed there in the field for three days.

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.

And on the next day, behold, a voice called me, saying: Here the word behold introduces a surprising event (see the comments on 2 Esd 6.17). Here it may be rendered “suddenly” (Good News Bible) or “I heard” (Contemporary English Version). In some languages this will be a good place for an ideophone. A voice called me, saying may be translated “a voice calling out to me.”

Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I give you to drink: Compare Jer 15.16; Ezek 2.8; 3.1-3. This command is a sign that the revelation from God is about to take place. Contemporary English Version says “Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I give you.”

Good News Bible provides a good model for this verse.

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.

The nations of the dragons of Arabia shall come out with many chariots: The dragons of Arabia are thought to represent Palmyrene military forces who prevented King Sapor I of Persia (240–273 A.D.) from conquering Syria and removing the province of Asia (roughly modern Turkey) from the Roman Empire. Palmyra was a city in central Syria. Arabia appears to be used in the broadest sense of the great desert that reached as far as the outskirts of Palmyra. Dragons are imaginary animals in the folklore of many peoples. To some they are symbols of good luck, but to most, they are usually thought of as similar to snakes, but with legs, hissing and breathing fire. Here they are an image for the armies of Arabia. Good News Bible keeps the picture of dragons by rendering this clause as “Arab armies with many chariots will advance like dragons.” Another possible model is “Armies are coming out of Arabia with many chariots [or, horse-drawn carts].” For chariots see the comments on 1 Esd 1.28.

And from the day that they set out, their hissing shall spread over the earth, so that all who hear them fear and tremble: Their hissing refers to the hissing sound that the dragons make. For the writer the earth may represent the country of Syria, but this local conflict in the book takes on much larger dimensions.

Here are two possible models for this verse:

• Armies are coming out of Arabia with many chariots. They come like hissing dragons, and ever since they set out, people all over the earth have heard the sound, and it has made them shake with fear.

• The fierce Arab armies will come riding many chariots, charging and hissing like dragons, and their sound will make everyone over the whole world tremble with fear.

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.

A fire has been sent upon you, and who is there to quench it?: This verse is similar in form to the previous one (see the comments there). Here the image of fire is used to refer to God’s punishment of the four nations mentioned in verse 1. The following model of this verse is based on Contemporary English Version:

• God will set you on fire, and no one can put it out.

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.

So the calamities will not delay in coming forth upon the earth, and the world will groan, and pains will seize it on every side: Here the earth is personified as a woman in labor (see the comments on the previous verse). On every side means “all over the world.” An alternative model for this verse is:

• That is how it will be when these disasters strike. The whole world will be groaning, but there will be nothing it can do to stop the pain.

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.

Woe to those who are choked by their sins and overwhelmed by their iniquities, as a field is choked with underbrush and its path overwhelmed with thorns, so that no one can pass through!: The picture here is of a field that has grown wild (choked with underbrush and its path overwhelmed with thorns), so that no one can walk through. In the same way sinners are choked by their sins and overwhelmed by their iniquities. God will destroy such people. For the word Woe, see the comments on 2 Esd 2.8; for thorns see verse 32. Path is a more likely reading than “seed” (Revised Standard Version footnote). An alternative model for this verse is:

• Some people are choked with sin like an open unused field, choked thick with underbrush; they are overwhelmed by sin like a pathway blocked by thornbushes. Such people are doomed [or, God will punish such people].

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.