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
This is part of Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple in Jerusalem around 950 BC. He is anticipating that Israel might one day be conquered and taken into exile because of their disobedience to God. Solomon is asking God to hear their prayers for forgiveness and restoration even when they are far from home, which remarkably foreshadowed the later Babylonian exile that would happen centuries later.
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