Keraia
2 Chronicles 6

2 Chronicles 6:36

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication · 2 Chronicles 6:12–42
Read 2 Chronicles 6

Translations

Modern
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,
Traditional
If 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;
Literal
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and their captors take them captive to a land distant or near,
Latin
Si autem peccaverint tibi (neque enim est homo qui non peccet), et iratus fueris eis, et tradideris hostibus, et captivos duxerint eos in terram longinquam, vel certe quæ juxta est,

Original

Hebrew
English
When they sin against You—for there is no one who does not sin—and You become angry with them and deliver them to an enemy who takes them as captives to a land far or near,

Notes

2 Chronicles 6:36–39

Petition 7: Solomon worried that Israel might be completely exiled, as shown in the last part of his prayer. Israel faced many exiles, but the total destruction of Jerusalem and its temple was the hardest test of faith. Solomon saw the temple as a source of faith; even in a foreign land, people could remember it and pray. Mentioning the land, city, and temple (2 Chronicles 6:38) suggests total destruction, not just partial exile. Even if the temple was gone, people could still pray to God in heaven, who would hear and forgive.

2 Chronicles 6:21–39

In his covenant with Israel, the Lord promised blessings and life for obedience, and curses and death for disobedience (Deuteronomy 27:11–28:68; 30:15–18). Solomon prayed for God to listen and forgive when the people broke God's covenant. The seven "if-then" requests in his prayer covered any future situations the covenant people might face. In each case, Solomon described the situation and asked God to help his people.

Parallels

1 Kings 8:22–53

Glossary

Chronicles, Books of First and Second Genealogy

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Depravity of Man: General Scriptures Concerning Perfection: Impossibility of Attaining To Perfection: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Public Prayer: Solomon Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To the First Temple: Solemnly Dedicated to God by Solomon