And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name:
And if they return to you with all their heart and soul while they are in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you facing toward their homeland that you gave to their ancestors, toward the city you have chosen, and toward the temple I have built for your name:
Solomon is describing how God's people can truly repent and pray to God even when they are prisoners in foreign lands, facing toward Jerusalem and the temple.
📚 Historical Context
During the time of King Solomon, who built the Temple in Jerusalem, this verse is part of his dedication prayer to God. Solomon is anticipating a future exile of the Israelites to a foreign land, as a consequence of their unfaithfulness, and he intercedes for them to repent and pray toward the holy city and Temple. This reflects the broader biblical narrative of God's covenant with Israel, including promises of judgment and restoration seen in later events like the Babylonian captivity.
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