And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against him: Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylonia from 605 to 562 B.C. During his reign he captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and took many of the people into exile. King of Babylon refers not just to his kingship over the city of Babylon, but the entire territory of Babylonia. In this clause Babylon is better rendered “Babylonia” (Good News Bible). Came up against him means he came to Judah to fight Jehoiakim’s army. According to Jer 25.1, it was in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign that Jeremiah received the message from the LORD that Nebuchadnezzar would attack Judah. This attack occurred in the years 604–603 B.C.

And bound him with a chain of brass and took him away to Babylon: It is more technically correct to say “a chain of bronze” (New Revised Standard Version; similarly Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). “Bronze” is a metal made by blending copper and tin. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Here Babylon refers to the capital city of Babylonia (so Contemporary English Version).

Good News Bible has a good model for this verse. But we may also render it as follows:

• While Jehoiakim was king, Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylonia, invaded Judah. He captured Jehoiakim, bound him with chains made of bronze, and took him away to Babylon.

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.