And they praised the God of their fathers: As in the previous verse, fathers means “ancestors.” This clause may be rendered “Everyone then praised the God of their ancestors” or “Everyone said to the God of their ancestors, ‘You are great!’ ”

Because he had given them release means God allowed the Jews to leave their exile in Babylonia. This clause may be translated “because he had freed them from Babylonia.”

And permission to go up and build Jerusalem and the temple: God also allowed the Jews to return to Judah, their own land. The verb go up is an idiom used when going to Jerusalem from any direction. As we mentioned in the comments on verse 49, the Jews walked on flat country most of the way back to Judah. So this clause may be rendered “allowing them to go and rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.”

Which is called by his name means the Jerusalem Temple was known as the Temple of the Lord (as opposed to the temple of Marduk, the temple of Baal, or such). It belonged to him.

And they feasted, with music and rejoicing, for seven days: The Greek word for feasted refers to eating and drinking a lot. The word for music can refer to singing and playing instruments. Both are probably in view here.

Here are alternative models for verses 62-63:

• 62 Everyone then praised the God of their ancestors, because he had freed them from Babylonia, and allowed them 63 to return to Judah to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple of the Lord. The people held a joyful feast for seven days, with [lots of] music.

• 62 Everyone then said to the God of their ancestors, “You are great! You have freed us from Babylonia, and allowed us 63 to return home to rebuild Jerusalem and your Temple.” The people then held….

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.