He said to me may be rendered “He answered” since Uriel answers Ezra’s question here.

They shall have freedom for seven days, so that during these seven days they may see the things of which you have been told, and afterwards they shall be gathered in their habitations: We can turn to sources outside the Bible for help here. An old tradition held that when a person died, the soul lingered near the body for seven days (see Talmud Shabbat 152ab; Life of Adam and Eve 43.2; compare Jdt 16.25; Sir 22.12; see also Box, page 589; Stone, page 250). This tradition may reflect verses 30-31, where the earth returns to chaos for seven days before the new creation. The things of which you have been told may be rendered “the things that I have told you about.” They shall be gathered in their habitations may be translated “they will be brought together into the places where they will rest [or, stay]” or “God will gather them together into their places of rest.”

Alternative models for this verse are:

• He [or, Uriel] answered, “Yes, for seven days they will be free and can observe these things I have told you about, but then they [all] will be brought together in their places of rest.”

• … but then God will gather them all together in their places of rest [or, in the places where they will rest].”

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.