captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done perversely, and have dealt wickedly; 38if they return unto thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captive, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name: 39then hear thou from heaven, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their [1]cause; and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee. 40Now, O 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. 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 [2]goodness. 42O LORD God, turn not
38. if they return] Cp. Lev. xxvi. 39—41; Deut. xxx. 1, 2 (passages anticipating captivity and also repentance in captivity).
39. their cause] Render with mg., their right (as in ver. 35).
40—42 (no parallel in 1 Kings). The Invocation.
The end of the prayer in 1 Kin. viii. 51—53 is quite different, and less effective.
40. attent] i.e. attentive. Cp. vii. 15 (the same English word for the same Heb. word).
41. Now therefore arise] This whole ver. corresponds (with some variation of reading) with vv. 8, 9 of Psalm cxxxii. For the invocation to arise, cp. Num. x. 35, the ancient chant of the Ark.
the ark of thy strength] This appellation of the Ark refers to its use in war; cp. 1 Sam. iv. 3, 6, 7.
with salvation] i.e. with victory. In Ps. cxxxii. 9, with righteousness. The thought in Chron. and in Ps. cxxxii. is the same, for through victory the human victor receives salvation (i.e. deliverance from the; enemy), and the Divine Giver of victory asserts His righteousness (i.e. by giving victory to the right).
thy saints] i.e. thy people Israel regarded as faithful worshippers of Jehovah; cp. Ps. lxxix. 2, cxlix. 5. So in the N.T. the Christians as a body are spoken of as "saints" and "sanctified."
rejoice in goodness] Render (with mg.), rejoice in good, i.e. in prosperity. In Ps. cxxxii. 9, shout for joy.
42. turn not away] Cp. Ps. cxxxii. 10.
