6:8. “… a pale horse: and his name that sat on him  was Death, and Hell“  (See 2:7, for quote from 2 Esdras 8:53: “…hell has fled…”)

Sirach 39:28-31: “There are winds that have been created for vengeance, and in their anger they scourge heavily; in the time of consummation they will pour out their strength and calm the anger of their Maker.  Fire and hail and famine and pestilence, all these have been created for vengeance; the teeth of wild beasts, and scorpions and vipers, and the sword that punishes the ungodly with destruction; they will rejoice in his commands, and be made ready on earth for their service, and when their times come they will not transgress his word.”  (See also 9:3, 10, 19).

 

6:9. “Souls under the altar” 

Note on 2 Esdras 4:35: “…chambers, literally ‘storehouses’ or ‘garners;’ according to rabbinical teaching the souls of the righteous dead are beneath the throne of God.”  (OAA, p. 30).

 

2 Maccabees note on 1:5: “To live outside Judea was thought of as divine punishment.”

 

6:10-11.”How long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood?”

2 Esdras 1:32: “I sent to you my servants the prophets, but you have taken and slain them and torn their bodies in pieces; their blood I will require of you, says the Lord.”

 

2 Esdras 4:33-37: “Then I answered and said, ‘How long and when will these things be?… He answered me and said,… Did not the souls of the righteous in their chambers ask about these matters, saying, ‘How long are we to remain here?  And when will come the harvest of our reward?’  And Jeremiel the archangel answered them and said, ‘When the number of those like yourselves is completed; for he has weighed the age in the balance, and measured the times by measure, and numbered the times by number; and he will not move or arouse them until that measure is fulfilled.”

 

This shows that the times specified to Daniel, (9:24-27) were taken seriously and calculated carefully.

 

2 Esdras 15:7-9: “Therefore says the Lord, ‘I will be silent no longer concerning their ungodly deeds which they impiously commit, neither will I tolerate their wicked practices.  Behold, innocent and righteous blood cries out continually, I will surely avenge them,’ says the Lord, ‘and will receive to myself all the innocent blood from among them.'”  (See also 6:10 above.)

 

6:11. “White Garments”

                2 Esdras 2:39-40.  See above at 3:4. 7:14. See also 7:3.

 

   “Full number”

 

2 Esdras 2:41: “The number of your children, whom you desired, is full; beseech the Lord’s power that your people, who have been called from the beginning, may be made holy.”