The temple servants were people who did ordinary labor around the Temple. In 1 Esd 1.3 this phrase is used as a description of the Levites. However, here they seem to be people who helped the Levites since verses 29-32 contain a list separate from that of Levite families in verses 26-28. Most of the names given in this list are not Hebrew, which would indicate that these workers were originally of non-Israelite origin. Numbers are not provided for each family name in this list. Verse 35 gives a total of the number of temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants.

In our model below for this list we follow the Greek spelling of the names (so also New Revised Standard Version), not the spelling in Revised Standard Version (see the comments on verses 7-8). This affects the names Ziha (“Esau” in Greek), Siaha (“Sua”), Shamlai (“Subai”), Gahar (“Geddur”), Reaiah (“Jairus”), Rezin (“Daisan”), Nekoda (“Noeba”), Gazzam (“Gazera”), Paseah (“Phinoe”), Besai (“Basthai”), Meunites (“Maani”), Bakbuk (“Acuph”), and Sisera (“Serar”).

Compare the parallel passages of Ezra 2.43-54 and Neh 7.46-56.

An alternative model for verses 29-32 is:

• 29 Families of Temple laborers also returned, people from the families known as Esau, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, Keros, Sua, Padon, Lebanah, Hagabah, 30 Akkub, Uthai, Ketab, Hagab, Subai, Hana, Cathua, Geddur, 31 Jairus, Daisan, Noeba, Chezib, Gazera, Uzza, Phinoe, Hasrah, Basthai, Asnah, Maani, Nephisim, Acuph, Hakupha, Asur, Pharakim, Bazluth, 32 Mehida, Cutha, Charea, Barkos, Serar, Temah, Neziah, and Hatipha.

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.