And that all who came from Babylonia to build the city should have their freedom, they and their children and all the priests who came: With this provision the king decreed that the Jews returning to Judah should not be treated as slaves (compare verse 49). Judah would remain part of the Persian Empire, but within that empire the Jews would be considered free citizens. The Greek expression for their children is probably to be understood as referring to “their descendants” (so New English Bible, Revised English Bible). By mentioning the priests separately, the king may be thinking they would not take part in rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Here are possible models for this verse:

• All the Jews who left Babylonia to rebuild the city of Jerusalem would be free persons, as would their descendants. This applied as well to all the priests making the journey.

• The priests and other Jews who return to rebuild Jerusalem are to be free people, together with their descendants.

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.