And the earth shall give up those who are asleep in it: This is a figurative expression for the resurrection of the dead. Those who are asleep in it are the dead people buried on this earth. A nonfigurative model for this clause is “All those who are dead and buried shall come alive.”

And the dust those who dwell silently in it: This figurative expression is parallel to the previous one. The verb phrase shall give up is implied here. Those who dwell silently in it also refers to the dead buried on earth. Good News Bible combines these two parallel clauses, saying “The ground will give up the dead who sleep there in silence.” Contemporary English Version also combines them, but uses nonfigurative language, saying “Everyone who is dead and buried will rise from death.”

And the chambers shall give up the souls which have been committed to them: The chambers refers to the world of the dead (Sheol), where souls go after death (see the comments on 2 Esd 4.35). At the resurrection the souls will come from there.

Alternative models for this verse are:

• The ground will give up the dead who lie there asleep, and the souls of the dead will be released from the places where they have been kept.

• All those who are dead and buried will come alive, and I will open up the rooms where I keep the souls of those who have died.

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.