When you were thirsty, did I not cleave the rock so that waters flowed in abundance?: See Exo 17.6 and Num 20.11. The answer to this rhetorical question is an implied “Yes.” It may be translated as a statement (so Good News Bible), for example, “When you were thirsty, I split open a rock so that plenty of water came gushing out.” However, in languages that have rhetorical questions, a question would certainly be effective.

Because of the heat I covered you with the leaves of trees: Because of the heat may be rendered “When you were suffering from the heat” or even “In order to protect you from the heat.” I covered you with the leaves of trees refers to the shade that leaves provide. The shade trees in Exo 15.27 may be in view here (compare also Bar 5.8).

Here is a possible model for this verse:

• When you were thirsty, I split open a rock so that plenty of water came gushing out. When you were suffering from the heat, I provided you with shade trees.

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.