Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
But if they come to their senses in the foreign land where they've been taken as prisoners, and they turn back to you and pray to you from that place where their captors hold them, saying, 'We have sinned and done wrong, we have acted wickedly,'
God is acknowledging that even when his people are punished and taken captive, they can still turn back to him with genuine repentance and he will hear them.
📚 Historical Context
This is part of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple, where he's asking God to hear prayers offered toward the temple. He's specifically addressing what would happen if Israel was defeated and taken into exile because of their disobedience, which later became reality when Babylon conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC.
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