1 Kings 2:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,

NIV: and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go

NASB: Do your duty to 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, so that you may succeed in all that you do and wherever you turn,

CSB: and keep your obligation to the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to keep his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees. This is written in the law of Moses, so that you will have success in everything you do and wherever you turn,

NLT: Observe the requirements of the Lord your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.

KJV: And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

NKJV: And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;

David begins his instructions to Solomon by telling his son to be strong and manly (1 Kings 2:2). Now he explains Solomon will need strength and masculine energy to obey and submit to the Lord by obeying the law of Moses.

Scholars think that Jeremiah was the primary author of 1 and 2 Kings. As he looked back over the history of Israel and the split kingdoms of Israel and Judah, one of his major themes was obedience. God rewards obedience and punishes disobedience by the people, and especially the king. God made a one-sided covenant with David: that David's nation would be great, that Israel would dwell in peace, and that David's line would rule in Israel (2 Samuel 7:8–16). In an overarching way, God has fulfilled and will fulfill His word: all the kings of the remnant kingdom Judah were from the line of David through Solomon, and the perfect fulfillment will come when Jesus reigns in the millennial kingdom.

And yet, the Mosaic Covenant still stands. If the king and the people do not follow the Mosaic law, they will face the curses of Deuteronomy 28:15–68. Disobedience will not keep Jesus from the throne, but it will keep the nation from prospering.

David paraphrases God's important command in Deuteronomy 11:1: "You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always." In this context, "statute" is a law or regulation given by a sovereign. A "commandment" is an order given to a subordinate, including terms listed in a contract. A "rule" is a justly determined judgment of what should happen. A "testimony" is a principle that can be enforced with punishment. Yet here, the terms aren't meant to be interpreted individually. Together, they represent the whole of God's word.

First Kings 2:1–4 is David's advice for Solomon to step into the covenant God made with David (2 Samuel 7:5–16). He just needs to obey: to follow God's laws. If he and each generation can obey God, Israel will always have a man from David's line on the throne. Solomon manages to follow David's instructions for a while. But hundreds of wives turn his heart to idolatry, and God takes half the kingdom from his son and gives it to another (1 Kings 11:1–8; 26–39).

In 1 Kings 2, Solomon establishes his kingdom. David tells Solomon to follow God and to deal justly with his officials. After David dies, Solomon executes his rival Adonijah and the murderer Joab. He sends the conspiring priest Abiathar to house arrest and deals with the Benjamite Shimei, who cursed David. Benaiah becomes the military commander, and Zadok the lead priest. Next, Solomon will offer his famous prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3:6–9).

David's reign ends as his health begins to fail. Watchful rivals try to take advantage of this, attempting to install their preferred heir to the throne (1 Kings 1). This fails, and Solomon is crowned. In 1 Kings 2, Solomon begins the work of inheriting God's covenant with David. Before David dies, he advises Solomon on how to follow God, respond to conspirators, and build the temple (1 Chronicles 22:6–19; 28:9–21). David also throws a more formal coronation ceremony (1 Chronicles 29:22–25). After dealing with the men who would take his crown, Solomon asks God for wisdom; God promises to add honor and wealth (1 Kings 3:6–14).

This was originally the first half of a combined text. First Kings records the end of David's reign and the rule of Solomon. After this, the kingdom is split in two. The northern nation of Israel no longer submits to the king of the southern nation, called Judah. The prophet Elijah first appears in this book. The kings mostly fail to honor the Lord. They participate in idolatry and other sins. This will eventually result in their conquest and exile, as depicted throughout the books of Chronicles.