If they repent with all their mind and with all their heart: For repent see the comments on the previous verse. With all their mind and with all their heart is literally “with all their heart and with all their soul” (similarly New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible; see the comments on 1 Chr 28.9). This expression is a common Old Testament way of saying “earnestly,” “sincerely,” or “completely.” It occurs often in the book of Deuteronomy (4.29; 6.5; 10.12; 11.13; 13.3; 26.16; 30.2, 6, 10). The heart refers to the intellect or will, while the “soul” stands for the emotions or feelings. Here this phrase emphasizes the sincerity and genuineness of the repentance. Good News Translation uses the adverbs “truly” and “sincerely” to convey the meaning, while New Century Version has “truly.”

In the land of their captivity, to which they were carried captive: See the comments on the previous two verses. This expression is repetitious. As in the previous verse, Good News Translation says simply “that land.” If the fuller expression is retained and the passive construction is a problem, then translators may say “in the land where their enemies forced them to live.”

And pray toward their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house which I have built for thy name: In exile in a foreign land, the people of Israel are exhorted to pray in the direction of the land of Israel, the city of Jerusalem, and the Temple (see the comments on verse 21). For their land, which thou gavest to their fathers, see verse 25; for the city which thou hast chosen, see verse 34; and for the house which I have built for thy name, see verses 7 and 34.

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 .