1 Kings 2:3

And keep the charge of the LORD your God to walk in His ways and to keep His statutes, commandments, ordinances, and decrees, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you turn,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — David addresses Solomon on his deathbed, urging him to assume royal authority and prepare for leadership. (1 Kings 2:2-4)

The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁמַרְתָּ (sha.mar.tâ) means "you will keep" or "guard," paired with מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mish.me.ret), "charge," to denote strict preservation of divine instructions. (1 Kings 2:3)

The thread — The command to obey covenant law for prosperity echoes Deuteronomy 29:9, while the call to internalize instruction mirrors Proverbs 3:1 and the royal copy requirement in Deuteronomy 17:18. (Deuteronomy 29:9; Proverbs 3:1; Deuteronomy 17:18)

Why it lands — The text demands active obedience to Mosaic law as the condition for national success and dynastic continuity. It requires the reader to treat covenant statutes as practical directives rather than abstract ideals.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְשָׁמַרְתָּ֞ve./sha.mar.Taand/ you will keep אֶת־'et-<obj.>מִשְׁמֶ֣רֶת׀mish.Me.ret[the] charge of יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֶ֗יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khaGod/ your לָלֶ֤כֶתla./Le.khetto/ walk בִּדְרָכָיו֙bi/d.ra.Kha/vin/ ways/ his לִשְׁמֹ֨רli/sh.Morto/ keep חֻקֹּתָ֤יוchu.ko.Ta/vstatutes/ his מִצְוֹתָיו֙mitz.vo.Ta/vcommandments/ his וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יוu./mish.pa.Ta/vand/ judgments/ his וְעֵדְוֹתָ֔יוve./'e.de.vo.Ta/vand/ testimonies/ his כַּכָּת֖וּבka./ka.Tuvaccording to <the>/ [what] is written בְּתוֹרַ֣תbe./to.Ratin/ [the] law of מֹשֶׁ֑הmo.ShehMoses לְמַ֣עַןle.Ma.'anso that תַּשְׂכִּ֗ילtas.Kilyou may cause to prosper אֵ֚ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-all אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherthat תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֔הta.'a.Sehyou will do וְאֵ֛תve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-every אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhere תִּפְנֶ֖הtif.Nehyou will turn שָֽׁם׃Shamthere

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 29:9 So keep and follow the words of this covenant, that you may prosper in all you do.
Proverbs 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;
Deuteronomy 17:18 When he is seated on his royal throne, he must write for himself a copy of this instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests.
Psalms 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies and seek Him with all their heart.
Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
1 Chronicles 22:12 Above all, may the LORD give you insight and understanding when He puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the Law of the LORD your God.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.
1 Chronicles 29:19 And give my son Solomon a whole heart to keep and carry out all Your commandments, decrees, and statutes, and to build Your palace for which I have made provision.”
2 Chronicles 31:20 So this is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah. He did what was good and upright and true before the LORD his God.
Deuteronomy 6:1 These are the commandments and statutes and ordinances that the LORD your God has instructed me to teach you to follow in the land that you are about to enter and possess,

People named

Moses