The first part of this verse is something of a repetition of the previous verse. Normally when we see parallel ideas in Hebrew writing we think of poetry, but most scholars agree that Solomon’s prayer is not to be considered poetry, at least not the major portion of it. Why then the repetition? To emphasize the importance of true repentance that comes from the heart. In this verse, in addition to speaking of the heart, Solomon spoke of the soul in its entirety. Repentance was to engage the whole person.
There is something in this prayer that deals with the omniscience of God. Solomon conceived of the people offering the prayer of repentance in the land of their captivity, but he also conceived of the prayer being made toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name.
The language suggests that God’s ability to hear the prayers of his people is not limited by distance and space.
This was an important point to make at the time of the opening of the temple. Considering the views of the pagan nations around Israel, there was a danger to believe that the Lord was somehow confined to the borders of Israel. Solomon understood, conversely, that the Lord could hear a prayer of repentance even if the people had been removed far away from their homeland. Yahweh is not a local deity! That is the reason why he can be the supreme judge, not only of Israel,but of the entire world.
48 if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart in the land of their enemies, who carried them captive, and pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their fathers, the city that you have chosen, and the house that I have built for your name,