Your children shall die of hunger may be rendered “Your children will starve to death” (similarly Good News Bible).

And you shall fall by the sword means they will be killed, probably in war (see 2Esdras 15.5). We suggest placing this clause at the beginning of the verse. It is more logical that the children will starve after the parents have been killed.

And your cities shall be wiped out means enemies will destroy their cities.

And all your people who are in the open country shall fall by the sword: People who are in the open country refers to those not living in the cities, but in the countryside. They also will be killed.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• You will be killed and your children will starve to death. Your cities will be destroyed, and all your people who live in the countryside will be killed.

• Your enemies will kill you and let your children starve to death. They will destroy your cities, and will kill all your people who live in the countryside.

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.