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1 Kings 8:44

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Kings 8:44 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;
1 Kings 8:44 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Kings 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
41Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name`s sake
42(for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thine outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house;
43hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by my name.
44If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, by whatsoever way thou shalt send them, and they pray unto Jehovah toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name;
45then hear thou in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause.
46If they sin against thee (for there is no man that sinneth not), and thou be angry with them, and deliver them to the enemy, so that they carry them away captive unto the land of the enemy, far off or near;
47yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn again, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captive, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have dealt wickedly;
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If thy people go out to battle against their enemy, etc.] In a foreign country, threatening to invade them, or having trespassed on their borders, or some way or other infringed on their liberties and privileges, and so given them just occasion to go to war with them: whithersoever thou shalt send them; this case supposes their asking counsel of God, or having a direction and commission from him by a prophet, or some other way, to engage in war with the enemy: and shall pray unto the Lord toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house I have built for thy name: for, notwithstanding the justness of their cause, and having a warrant from God to go to war, yet they were to pray to…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“To battle - In a just cause, and by thy warrant or commission. Shall pray - Whereby he instructs them, that they should not trust, either to the strength or justice of their arms, but only to God's help and blessing. Chosen - For thy dwelling - place, and the seat of thy temple. Towards the house - For to it they were to turn their faces in prayer; to profess themselves worshippers of the true God, in opposition to idols; and to strengthen their faith in God's promises and covenant, the tables whereof were contained in that house. Soldiers in the field must not think it enough that others pray for them: they must pray for themselves. And they are here encouraged to expect a gracious answer.…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“8:44-45 On behalf of those without access to the Temple, particularly when far away fighting for God’s cause (Lev 26:7-8; Deut 20:1-4), Solomon asked that God hear their prayers directed toward the Lord and his Temple in Jerusalem (see Dan 6:10).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“go out to battle: Deu 20:1-4, Deu 31:3-6; Jos 1:2-5; Ch2 6:34 whithersoever: Num 31:1-12; Jos 6:2-5, Jos 8:1, Jos 8:2; Jdg 1:1, Jdg 1:2, Jdg 4:6, Jdg 6:14; Sa1 15:3, Sa1 15:18; Sa1 30:8; Sa2 5:19, Sa2 5:23 shall pray: Ch2 14:9-12, Ch2 18:31, Ch2 20:6-13, Ch2 32:20 toward the city: Heb. the way of the city, Kg1 8:16; Psa 78:67-69, Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14; Dan 9:17-19 3 Kings (1 Kings) 8:45”
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Sources and verification