Like the previous letters, this one may be indented also (so Good News Bible and Contemporary English Version; see the comments on 1 Esdras 2.3).

I have read the letter which you sent me may be rendered simply “I read your letter.”

So I ordered search to be made may be translated “So I ordered my officials to search the old records.” See verse 21.

And it has been found that this city from of old has fought against kings may be expressed as “and they found that the citizens of Jerusalem have continually rebelled against kings.” See verse 22.

Good News Bible may be used as a model for this verse. Other possible models are:

• “I have read your letter. I ordered my staff [or, my officials] to search the old records, and they found that this city has a long history of rebelling against [or, defying] kings [or, royal authority].

• “… and they found that the inhabitants [or, people] of this city have continually rebelled against kings.

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.