תהלים, פרק ק״ב, פסוק ט״ז

The redemption of Israel and the rebuilding of Zion are not merely local events, but world-shaking moments that shift the entire global understanding of God. When God saves His people and rebuilds His sanctuary, the nations of the world and their leaders will be struck with profound awe and fear [רש״י, מאירי]. This serves as a vital historical correction. When the Temple was originally destroyed, God's reputation was damaged among the nations. Seeing strangers ruin His sanctuary while He remained silent led them to the mistaken conclusion that His power had faded. Rebuilding the sanctuary restores that lost reverence, proving that the hope of the Israelites was never in vain and revealing God's glory to the eyes of the world [אלשיך, רד״ק, מאירי].

This renewed awe will affect everyone, from the simple masses to the highest rulers [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד], but they will experience it in fundamentally different ways. The common people among the nations will be moved by the fame of God's name, which represents reports arriving from a distance. Unable to witness God's presence directly, they will be filled with fear simply upon hearing the rumors of the signs and wonders surrounding the rebuilding of Zion. In contrast, the kings of the earth, who possess a deeper understanding of majesty and royalty, will experience His direct glory. They will be granted the ability to actually see and grasp the tangible, immense honor of God that is revealed once the sanctuary stands again [מלבי״ם].