1 Kings 2:3
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;
What does 1 Kings 2:3 mean?
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.
