1 Kings 2:3

3 "Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, 1according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that 2you may succeed in all that you do and wherever * * you turn,

1 Kings 2:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 2:3

And keep the charge of the Lord thy God
Which may in general respect his whole walk and conversation, and his obedience to the law and will of God; and in particular his just government of Israel committed to his charge:

to walk in his ways;
directed to in his word:

to keep his statutes and his judgments;
his laws, ceremonial, moral, and judicial:

and his testimonies;
as the above laws, which testify of his mind, and declare what he would have done and observed:

as it is written in the law of Moses;
which a king of Israel was obliged to write a copy of, keep by him, and read it, and rule according to it, ( Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ) :

that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever
thou turnest thyself;
to reign in righteousness, and according to the law of God, is the only way to have a prosperous and happy reign: or "that thou mayest act wisely" F16; the law of God furnishing out the best rules of government and maxims of policy; see ( Deuteronomy 4:6 Deuteronomy 4:7 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F16 (lykvt Neml) "ut prudenter agas", Montanus, Tigurine version; "ut intelligas universa", V. L.

1 Kings 2:3 In-Context

1 As David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,
2 "I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man.
3 "Keep the charge of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His ordinances, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,
4 so that the LORD may carry out His promise which He spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your sons are careful of their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.'
5 "Now you also know what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed; he also shed the blood of war in peace. And he put the blood of war on his belt about his waist, and on his sandals on his feet.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Deuteronomy 17:18-20
  • 2. 1 Chronicles 22:12, 13
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