At first our fathers dwelt as aliens in Egypt, and they were delivered from there: In this context our fathers is better rendered “our ancestors” (Good News Bible, Contemporary English Version). Aliens (Good News Bible “foreigners”) are people who live, at least temporarily, in a country although they are really from some other country. At the beginning of the story in the book of Exodus the Israelites were living in Egypt, but were not Egyptians. An alternative model for this verse is:

• At first [or, Long ago] our ancestors were foreigners living in Egypt, but then they were set free [or, God set them free].

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.