For verses 38-40 compare the parallel passages of Ezra 2.61-63 and Neh 7.63-65.

Of the priests the following had assumed the priesthood but were not found registered: In Greek this verse begins with a conjunction meaning “And,” which introduces what follows as another distinct category of people who returned from exile to Judah. The phrase had assumed the priesthood is misleading. The Greek text does not say that the men of these families had actually performed any priestly duties, only that they “had claimed to be priests” (similarly Good News Bible). Were not found registered means that no record could be found that they were indeed legitimate priests. It is not said who looked for such evidence and found none, but translators with no passive voice may say “the Jewish authorities could not find any record to prove it.”

The sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Jaddus who had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was called by his name: As elsewhere in this section, sons of means “descendants of” (New Revised Standard Version). Three clans are named here, but no numbers are given for them: Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Jaddus. A grandson of Hakkoz helped to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem (see Neh 3.4, 21). It is probable that the Eupolemus of 1 Macc 8.17 was also one of his descendants. There he is called “Accos,” which is the Greek spelling used in this verse. Since the Hakkoz clan is named in 1 Chr 24.10 as one of the recognized priestly clans from the time of David, we must assume that their claim to be priests was recognized as authentic. Who had married Agia, one of the daughters of Barzillai, and was called by his name is parenthetical information about Jaddus, so Good News Bible correctly places it within parentheses. It was so unusual for a man to assume the name of his wife’s clan that it called for special mention.

An alternative model for this verse is:

• There were also some family groups that claimed they were priests, but no one could prove it. These were the family groups of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Jaddus. (Jaddus married a woman named Agia, and took on the name of her father Barzillai.)

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.