1 Kings 2:3

3 And keep thou the keepings and the behests of thy Lord God, that thou go in his ways, and keep his ceremonies, and his behests, and his dooms, and (his) witnessings, as it is written in the law of Moses; that thou understand all things which thou doest, and whither ever thou shalt turn thee. (And obey thou the orders and the commands of the Lord thy God, so that thou go in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commands, and his laws, or his judgements, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses; so that thou understand all the things that thou doest, and wherever thou shalt turn thyself.)

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 Forsooth the days of David nighed, that he should die; and he commanded to Solomon, his son, and said,
2 Lo! I enter into the way of all (the) earth; be thou strengthened (take thou courage), and be thou a strong man.
3 And keep thou the keepings and the behests of thy Lord God, that thou go in his ways, and keep his ceremonies, and his behests, and his dooms, and (his) witnessings, as it is written in the law of Moses; that thou understand all things which thou doest, and whither ever thou shalt turn thee. (And obey thou the orders and the commands of the Lord thy God, so that thou go in his ways, and keep his statutes, and his commands, and his laws, or his judgements, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses; so that thou understand all the things that thou doest, and wherever thou shalt turn thyself.)
4 That the Lord confirm his words, which the Lord spake of me, and said, If thy sons keep my ways, and go before me in truth, in all their heart, and in all their soul, a man shall not be taken away of thee from the throne of Israel. (So that the Lord shall establish his words, which the Lord spoke about me, saying, If thy sons follow my ways, and go before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, a man of thee shall not be taken away from the throne of Israel.)
5 Also thou knowest what things Joab, the son of Zeruiah, did to me; (and) what things he did to [the] two princes of the host of Israel, to Abner, the son of Ner, and to Amasa, the son of Jether, which he killed, and shedded the blood of battle in peace; and putted the blood of battle in his girdle, that was about his loins, and in his shoe(s), that was in his feet (and put the blood of battle upon his girdle, that was about his loins, and in his shoes, that were upon his feet).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.