'Moreover, when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a far country for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this house — The prayer extends beyond Israel to foreigners (הַנׁוֹכְרִי אֲשֶׁר־הוּא לֹא מֵעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל). These foreign visitors come 'for the sake of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm' (לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וּיָדְךָ הַחֲזָקָה וּזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה)—Israel's God's reputation draws them. The 'mighty hand and outstretched arm' (יָד חֲזָקָה וּזְרוֹעַ נְטוּיָה) echo the Exodus deliverance language: God's mighty acts are known internationally. These foreigners will 'come and pray toward this house' (וּבָאוּ וְהִתְפַּלְּלוּ אֶל־הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה), participating in temple worship. The openness to foreign prayer expands the temple's theological scope: it is not merely Israel's cult center but a house open to international recognition of God's greatness.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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