Thou didst make with him an everlasting covenant, and promise him that thou wouldst never forsake his descendants: God made a solemn agreement with Abraham that would last for all time (see Gen 15.18-21; 17.1-14). For the idea of a covenant, see the comments on 2 Esd 2.5. Contemporary English Version renders this sentence as “You made a solemn agreement and promised Abraham that you would never abandon his descendants.”

And thou gavest to him Isaac, and to Isaac thou gavest Jacob and Esau: Compare Josh 24.3-4. Abraham was the father of Isaac, who was the father of the twins Jacob and Esau.

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• You made an everlasting covenant [or, solemn agreement] with him, promising that you would never abandon his descendants. Then you gave him a son, Isaac, and to Isaac you gave two sons, Jacob and Esau.

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.