But Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai doesn't say he can't pray for his son's recovery or that he doesn't know if it's in accordance with the Divine plan. He just says that his prayers would have been ineffectual.
Correct. I'm offering an explanation why his prayers would have been ineffectual: A minister's prayers are guided by more limiting conditions, such that he couldn't pray for his son's recovery because he wasn't confident of what was in accordance with the Divine plan.
But Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakkai doesn't say he can't pray for his son's recovery or that he doesn't know if it's in accordance with the Divine plan. He just says that his prayers would have been ineffectual.
Correct. I'm offering an explanation why his prayers would have been ineffectual: A minister's prayers are guided by more limiting conditions, such that he couldn't pray for his son's recovery because he wasn't confident of what was in accordance with the Divine plan.