They offered at the dedication of the temple of the Lord one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve he-goats for the sin of all Israel: The dedication of the temple was the official consecration of the Temple to God for worship after the completion of its rebuilding. The description of this dedication is parallel to the dedication of the Temple of Solomon in 1 Kgs 8 and 2 Chr 7, although the ceremony here is much less elaborate. The number of sacrificial animals is much less in 1 Esdras due to the difference in the economic situation of the community (compare 1 Kgs 8.63). At this dedication service the people sacrificed the following animals: one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve he-goats. For the Greek words rendered bulls, rams and lambs, see the comments on 1 Esd 6.28. All these words refer to male animals. The Greek word for he-goats refers to male goats. The bulls, rams, and lambs were probably sacrificed as whole burnt offerings and fellowship offerings (see the comments on 1 Esd 1.14 and 4.52 for these types of offerings). However, the male goats were offered … for the sin of all Israel, which refers to the sacrifice known as the sin offering. A sin offering was an offering that was made for sins to be forgiven or for a person to be purified from sin (see Lev 4.1–5.13; 6.24-30). It was an offering that was given to purify people from ritual defilement. It was partially eaten by the priests. Here the offering was given for the sins of all the people of Israel to be forgiven by God. The twelve male goats were given as a sacrifice to purify the people. In the account of the dedication of the altar in Num 7.87, twelve male goats were also sacrificed. He-goats is an archaic English expression for male goats. They are also referred to in informal English as billy goats. Good News Bible says simply “goats,” but it is better to say “male goats” in this context (see Lev 4.22-31, which says male goats are to be offered for the sins of rulers, and female goats for the sins of other people). The sex of the animal is probably significant here and should be carried over in translation.

According to the number of the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel: In the parallel passage of Ezra 6.17, twelve goats are offered, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Here the author refers to the twelve leaders of the tribes of Israel. Leaders of the tribes (literally “tribal leaders”) renders one word in Greek. This phrase refers to the twelve sons of Jacob, the ancestors of the twelve tribes. New English Bible says “the twelve patriarchs of Israel.” The twelve tribes no longer existed, but this dedication ceremony recalls the ideal unity of all Israel.

Here is an alternative model for verses 7-8:

• 7 For the dedication of the Lord’s temple, the people sacrificed 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 male lambs. 8 They also sacrificed twelve male goats as an offering for the sins of all the Jews, one for each of the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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.