And Hezekiah for the people in the days of Sennacherib: See 2 Kgs 19.14-19; Isa 37.14-20. Hezekiah was the king of Judah from 716 to 687 B.C. Sennacherib was the king of Assyria at the time, and he attacked Jerusalem. So in the days of Sennacherib may be translated “when Sennacherib was threatening [or, attacking] Jerusalem.”

And many others prayed for many: This clause may be rendered “There are many other examples like this” or “Many others have prayed similar prayers” (Contemporary English Version).

An alternative model for this verse is:

• Why did King Hezekiah pray for his people when Sennacherib was threatening Jerusalem? There are many such examples of this.

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.