John Gill Commentary 1 Kings 8:34

"then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers." — 1 Kings 8:34 (ASV)

Then hear you in heaven, and forgive the sin of your people
Israel
It being not personal, but public sins, which would be the cause of such a calamity:

and bring them again unto the land which you gave unto their
fathers ;
as had been often their case in the time of the judges.