Two formal steps are taken here by the priests from the family of Jeshua and his brothers: they promise to send away their foreign wives, and they offer a sacrifice. These steps are not repeated for any of the other families. However, it is assumed that the high-priestly family set an example for the other families.
They pledged themselves is literally “they gave their hand.” Giving one’s hand was a sign of agreement. In order to make the meaning of the gesture explicit, New International Version translates “They all gave their hands in pledge” (see 2 Kgs 10.15). They took an oath to send away their wives with the understanding that they would be subject to punishment if they did not fulfill their promise (see verse 5 above; compare Ezek 17.18). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses a comparable English idiom: “They gave their word.” “They promised” in Good News Translation is simple and clear, but it does not imply an accompanying gesture or oath.
To put away their wives: See verse 3 above.
Their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt: The Hebrew is literally “acknowledging guilt was a ram of the flock for their guilt.” This is supported by Hebrew Old Testament Text Project with a B rating. The first occurrence of “guilt” is understood by Revised Standard Version and many other versions to refer to the guilt offering they gave and should be translated accordingly. A guilt offering was given for unintentional violations of the Law (see Lev 5.14–6.7). This is also called a “reparation-offering” (Revised English Bible) through which God is compensated for the sin committed. Good News Translation calls it a “repayment offering” in Leviticus. It seems that their marriages to foreign wives were considered to be unintentional since this interpretation of the Law banning the taking of foreign wives was not known by all. The offering was made for their guilt (see Ezra 9.6). The meaning is that they made an offering in atonement for their sins and to obtain forgiveness. Good News Translation therefore says “as a sacrifice for their sins.”
According to Lev 5.18, the prescribed guilt offering was “a ram without blemish from the flock” (New Revised Standard Version). A ram is a male sheep. Flock is the term that is applied to a group of sheep and goats. Although many versions translate ram of the flock literally, this expression reflects a Hebrew thought pattern similar to “birds of the air.” Good News Translation therefore translates according to standard English usage and omits of the flock (also Bible en français courant, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), and many other languages will do the same. New International Version makes explicit the fact that it was not one ram that was offered for all, but that “they each presented a ram.”
Good News Translation uses two words for the offering here, first “offered” and then “sacrifice.” The translator needs to take care in the choice of words. What is specifically required here is that the ram be presented as an offering and not actually sacrificed by each priest who was guilty. According to the instructions in Leviticus, the animal is to be brought to the priest on duty and it is he who shall sacrifice it.
Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .