1 Kings 8:43

43 thou shalt hear in heaven, in the firmament of thy dwelling place, and thou shalt do all things, for which the alien calleth thee; that all peoples of lands learn to dread thy name, as thy people Israel doeth, and prove [they], that thy name is called on this house, which I [have] builded. (thou shalt hear in heaven, in the firmament of thy dwelling place, and thou shalt do all the things, for which the foreigner calleth thee; so that all the peoples of the lands learn to fear thy name/learn to revere thy name, as thy people Israel doeth, and they learn that this House, which I have built, is called by thy name.)

1 Kings 8:43 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 8:43

Hear thou in heaven thy dwellingplace
The prayer of the stranger:

and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for;
which were consistent with the will of God and his glory, and for the good of the stranger; this is more absolutely and unconditionally expressed than the requests for the Israelites; it is not desired that he would do by them according to their ways, and if they turned from their sins, or knew the plague of their hearts; the reason of which is supposed to be, because the Israelites knew the will of God, when the strangers did not; and therefore it is desired that, notwithstanding their ignorance, and their non-compliance with the divine will, through that, they might be heard and answered:

that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy
people Israel;
might know him to be a God, hearing and answering prayer, forgiving sin, and bestowing favours, which might lead them to fear him and his goodness, as Israel did:

and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called
by thy name;
that he dwelt in it, granted his presence, heard and received the supplications of men, answered their requests, and accepted of their sacrifices here. Solomon seems to have had knowledge of the calling of the Gentiles, and to desire it.

1 Kings 8:43 In-Context

41 Furthermore and when an alien, that is not of thy people Israel, cometh from a far land for thy name; (And furthermore when a foreigner, who is not of thy people Israel, cometh from a far land because of thy fame;)

42 for thy great name, and thy strong hand, and thine arm stretched out (and thy outstretched arm), shall be heard (of) everywhere; therefore when he cometh, and prayeth in this place,

43 thou shalt hear in heaven, in the firmament of thy dwelling place, and thou shalt do all things, for which the alien calleth thee; that all peoples of lands learn to dread thy name, as thy people Israel doeth, and prove [they], that thy name is called on this house, which I [have] builded. (thou shalt hear in heaven, in the firmament of thy dwelling place, and thou shalt do all the things, for which the foreigner calleth thee; so that all the peoples of the lands learn to fear thy name/learn to revere thy name, as thy people Israel doeth, and they learn that this House, which I have built, is called by thy name.)

44 If thy people goeth out to battle against his enemies, by the way whither ever thou sendest them, they shall pray (to) thee against the way of the city which thou hast chosen, and over against the house that I have builded to thy name, (If thy people goeth out to battle against their enemies, by the way wherever thou sendest them, they shall pray to thee toward the way of the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the House that I have built in honour of thy name,)

45 and (then) thou shalt hear in heaven the prayers of them, and the beseechings of them, and thou shalt make the doom of them (and thou shalt grant them justice).