Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, with his kinsmen, took their places …: Then renders the Greek conjunction that is literally “And” (An American Translation). Here it is better left untranslated (so Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). These verses do not describe what next happened after verse 47, but what the purpose of the assembly in verse 47 was. For Jeshua the son of Jozadak, the High Priest, see the comments on verses 5-6. Good News Bible spells the name Jozadak as “Jehozadak” here, but translators should be consistent in the spelling of this name. His fellow priests is literally “his brothers the priests.” Contemporary English Version says “the other priests,” which lacks the idea of people who are joined by profession in a common task. However, we agree with Contemporary English Version that “the other priests” is probably the most convenient translation here. For Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, see the comments on verses 5-6. The Greek phrase for his kinsmen (literally “the brothers of this one”) may refer to “his relatives” (Good News Bible), but in this context it more likely refers to “his colleagues” (New English Bible), that is, the men who assisted him in governing the newly established community. The English phrase took their places indicates that all these men stood at places assigned them for a ceremony, which may be the case, but the Greek verb here is not that specific. New English Bible translates “came forward,” but Revised English Bible is better with “set to work.” We suggest the following translation for the beginning of verse 48: “Joshua, the son of Jozadak, was there, with the other priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his assistants. Together they set to work [or, began working] ….”

And prepared the altar of the God of Israel: The Greek phrase translated prepared the altar does not quite say “rebuilt the altar” (Contemporary English Version; compare Ezra 3.2). We may say “got the altar ready for use.” For this altar, see the comments on 1 Esd 1.17-18; for the God of Israel, see 1 Esd 1.48.

To offer burnt offerings upon it: For burnt offerings, see the comments on 1 Esd 4.52.

In accordance with the directions in the book of Moses the man of God: The book of Moses refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures that were known as the Books of Moses. The instructions that are referred to here are those relating to the offering of burnt offerings that are found primarily in Lev 1 and 6 and Num 28–29. In Deut 33.1 Moses is described as the man of God. This is an expression that is used elsewhere in the Old Testament of prophets, for example, Samuel (1 Sam 9.6), Elijah (1 Kgs 17.24), and Elisha (2 Kgs 5.8). It refers to their special powers given by God. It does not refer to a special friendship with God, or to favoritism on God’s part. In some languages where the word “man” implies physical prowess and strength, it will be necessary to translate “the person of God.” This phrase can also be rendered “the prophet of God” or “the servant of God.”

Here is an alternative model for verses 48-49:

• 48 Joshua, the son of Jozadak, was there, with the other priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, with his assistants. Together they set to work [or, began working] to get the altar of Israel’s God ready for use, 49 following [the] directions in the Book of Moses, the man [or, servant] of God. On this altar they would burn the whole bodies of animals as sacrifices.

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.