And after three thousand years Solomon built the city, and offered offerings: The same textual footnote regarding three thousand applies here as well as in verse 45 (see the comments there). Good News Bible does not repeat the phrase three thousand years since it is implied clearly from the previous verse. In the model below we also leave it as understood. The mention of Solomon is surprising here, since in 2 Esd 3.24 the building of Jerusalem is attributed to David. The author does not appear to be making a clean distinction between the city of Jerusalem and the Temple in Jerusalem. According to Uriel’s interpretation, the earthly Jerusalem was born when Solomon built the city. The adjective our author has consistently used to describe this city is “built” (see the comments on 2 Esd 5.25). Jerusalem was a “built city.” Of course all cities are built, but the author probably has two points in mind. First, the building of this particular city was not finished until the Temple was built. Second, the adjective serves as a reminder that at the author’s time the city was in fact destroyed.

Then it was that the barren woman bore a son means the birth of this son represents the construction of the earthly Jerusalem. The following model of the verse makes this clear:

• Then Solomon built the city, and priests began offering sacrifices there. This is what was meant by the childless woman giving birth to a son.

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.