If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
Read it in contextSolomon’s Prayer of Dedication
Start reading at 2 Chronicles 6:12 (2 Chronicles 6:12 to 2 Chronicles 6:42).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
This unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The temple's construction and dedication stand at the center of the account of Solomon's reign.
6:12And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands:
6:13For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven,
6:14And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts:
6:15Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day.
6:16Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.
6:17Now then, O LORD God of Israel, let thy word be verified, which thou hast spoken unto thy servant David.
6:18But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house which I have built!
6:19Have respect therefore to the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to hearken unto the cry and the prayer which thy servant prayeth before thee:
6:20That thine eyes may be open upon this house day and night, upon the place whereof thou hast said that thou wouldest put thy name there; to hearken unto the prayer which thy servant prayeth toward this place.
6:21Hearken therefore unto the supplications of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, which they shall make toward this place: hear thou from thy dwelling place, even from heaven; and when thou hearest, forgive.
6:22If a man sin against his neighbour, and an oath be laid upon him to make him swear, and the oath come before thine altar in this house;
6:23Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness.
6:24And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house;
6:25Then hear thou from the heavens, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest to them and to their fathers.
6:26When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;
6:27Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.
6:28If there be dearth in the land, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillers; if their enemies besiege them in the cities of their land; whatsoever sore or whatsoever sickness there be:
6:29Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:
6:30Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)
6:31That they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways, so long as they live in the land which thou gavest unto our fathers.
6:32Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house;
6:33Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name.
6:34If thy people go out to war against their enemies by the way that thou shalt send them, and they pray unto thee toward this city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name;
6:35Then hear thou from the heavens their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
6:36If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
6:37Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
6:38If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
6:39Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.
6:40Now, my God, let, I beseech thee, thine eyes be open, and let thine ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
6:41Now therefore arise, O LORD God, into thy resting place, thou, and the ark of thy strength: let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.
6:42O LORD God, turn not away the face of thine anointed: remember the mercies of David thy servant.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Ezra is the traditional Jewish attribution, while the final compiler is not known with certainty. First and Second Chronicles are parts of the same historical work. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (2 Chronicles 5:1–7:22): Solomon, the elders, priests, Levites, and assembled Israelites participate in the temple dedication. The LORD subsequently addresses Solomon personally. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? The Jewish community after exile, especially those concerned with the temple, worship, the Davidic kings, and the call to return and rebuild. Biblical references: 2 Chronicles 36:20; 2 Chronicles 36:22; 2 Chronicles 36:23. book background
What
What is the topic of this reading unit? Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication. Read 2 Chronicles 6:12 through 2 Chronicles 6:42 as a connected unit. interpretation
How does it contribute to the book? This unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The temple's construction and dedication stand at the center of the account of Solomon's reign. interpretation
When
When are the events or message set? The account moves from Solomon's reign through the kings of Judah, Jerusalem's fall, and Cyrus' proclamation. book background
Where
What is the book’s geographic setting? Jerusalem and its temple are central, with episodes in other parts of Judah and neighboring kingdoms and a closing reference to Persia. book background
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication (2 Chronicles 6:12 to 2 Chronicles 6:42).
Start reading at 2 Chronicles 6:12. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The Davidic kingship and temple history form part of the setting for the New Testament's account of Jesus. Matthew's genealogy places several of these kings in that line. See 2 Chronicles 7:18, Matthew 1:6, Matthew 1:7, Matthew 1:16. interpretation
How should this book guide our response? Attend to the connection between worship and conduct. Promises given to Solomon concerning this temple and people should retain their stated setting and conditions when used in later exhortation. interpretation
Cited: 2 Chronicles 6:12, 2 Chronicles 6:42, 2 Chronicles 7:18, Matthew 1:6, Matthew 1:7, Matthew 1:16
Who wrote it, and how we know
Ezra (traditional)From early tradition
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. It closes with the decree of Cyrus. 2 Chronicles 36:22
Early traditionJewish tradition (Baba Bathra 14b) names Ezra.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of 2 Chronicles 6
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Second Chronicles follows Solomon and the kings of Judah, emphasizing the temple, worship, and responses to prophetic warning. The closing proclamation of Cyrus points beyond exile toward return. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The temple's construction and dedication stand at the center of the account of Solomon's reign.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The temple's construction and dedication stand at the center of the account of Solomon's reign.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of 2 Chronicles
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Second Chronicles follows Solomon and the kings of Judah, emphasizing the temple, worship, and responses to prophetic warning. The closing proclamation of Cyrus points beyond exile toward return.
Connection to the wholeJerusalem's fall is explained in relation to rejected warnings, and Cyrus' proclamation opens the possibility of return and rebuilding.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.