So I went, as he directed me, into the field which is called Ardat: Good News Bible understands the pronoun he as referring to the angel Uriel, but it more likely refers to God (so Contemporary English Version), who told him to go to a field of flowers (see verse 24). So translators may begin this verse with “So I went as God commanded me…,” “As God commanded me, I went…,” or “I did as God told me, and went….” In obedience to God Ezra moved from his bedroom (2 Esd 3.1) to a field. He moved outside, which may indicate that light was beginning to dawn for him, that he was beginning to see things differently (see the comments on verse 39). He went to a field called Ardat, which is unknown. There is great textual confusion in the ancient versions about the exact form of the place name Ardat (see the Revised Standard Version footnote). However, a footnote is unnecessary. Translators should follow the Latin here, as do Revised Standard Version and Good News Bible.

And there I sat among the flowers and ate of the plants of the field: Here it is clear that Ezra did not eat flowers (compare verse 24).

And the nourishment they afforded satisfied me may be rendered simply “and that was enough food for me” (Good News Bible).

We suggest the following model for this verse:

• I did as I was told [or, as God told me], and went to a field known as Ardat. I sat among the flowers there, and ate the plants that grew there. That was all the food I needed.

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.