Verses 34-35 present a sixth situation in which God’s people may turn to him in prayer. Such a time of war occurs in 2 Chr 20.

If thy people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way thou shalt send them: The people go out to battle at God’s command, not on their own initiative. Good News Translation reverses the two clauses here to make this clear, saying “When you command your people to go into battle against their enemies.” Such a restructuring results in an easier and more understandable reading in English. NET Bible also restructures in this way by saying “When you direct your people to march out and fight their enemies.”

And they pray to thee toward this city which thou hast chosen and the house which I have built for thy name: Earlier in this prayer Solomon only refers to the people praying toward the Temple, but here he adds praying toward this city, that is, Jerusalem (see the comments on verse 21). To pray toward Jerusalem would clearly mean praying in the direction of the Temple also. La Biblia: Traducción en Lenguaje Actual makes it clear that Jerusalem is in view here by rendering this city which thou has chosen as “your beloved city of Jerusalem.”

For the house which I have built for thy name, see the comments of 2Chr 6.7 and 2 Chr 2.1. For thy name may be rendered “as a place to worship you” (New Century Version) or simply “for you” (Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Chronicles, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2014. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .