1 Kings 8:32

Then hear thou in heaven [Heb. and thou, thou wilt hear the heavens . The same expression, תּשְׁמַע הַשָּׁמַיִם , is found in verses 34, 36, 39. See Ewald, 300 a. Keil sees in it the adverbial use of the accusative. Most of the versions read "from heaven," as does the Chronicles and one MS .], and do [ i.e; act] and judge thy servants, condemning [Heb. to make ( i.e; prove) wicked ] the wicked, to bring [Heb. give, same word as below] his way [ i.e; works, fruits] upon his head [cf. Ezekiel 9:10 ; Ezekiel 11:21 ; same expression] and justifying [Heb. to make righteous . Cf. δικαιοῦν in N . T . and justum facere ] the righteous [cognate words are used in both cases], to give him according to his righteousness.

The second special petition contemplates the case, which was morally certain to occur, of Hebrews taken captive in war and carried to a foreign land. To be separated from the commonwealth, the rites and the blessings of Israel, was one of the greatest calamities which could befal a Jew ( Deuteronomy 4:27 , Deuteronomy 4:28 ; Le 26:33; Psalms 137:1-9 .), and as such Solomon gives it a prominent place in his prayer. The connexion, how. ever which some have imagined to exist between this prayer and the preceding, viz; that that referred to internal, this to external dangers, is too artificial to have found a place in Solomon's thoughts.