2 Kings 23:3 - Exposition

And the king stood by a pillar — עַל צָעַמּוֹד is not "by the pillar," but (as in 2 Kings 11:14 ) "on the platform" (see the comment on that place)— and made a covenant before the Lord ; literally, made the covenant (as in 2 Kings 11:17 ); i.e. made, or renewed, the old covenant with God ( Exodus 24:5-8 ), which had been broken by the complete neglect of the Law, and the manifold idolatries of Manasseh and Amon. He renewed this covenant "before the Lord," i.e. from his platform in the court, directly opposite the entrance to the temple, through which he could, perhaps, see the veil hanging in front of the holy of holies-at any rate being, and feeling himself to be, in the immediate presence of God. To walk after the Lord — i.e. to be his true follower and servant— and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes. (On the multiplication of such terms, see the comment upon 1 Kings 2:3 .) They are intended to express "the totality of the Law," all its requirements without exception. With all their heart and all their soul —obedience was worthless, unless paid from the heart and soul (see Deuteronomy 4:29 ; Deuteronomy 30:2 ; Joel 2:12 , Joel 2:13 )— to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. The representatives of the people, one and all, were parties to the premise made on their behalf by the king, and signified their consent, probably as they had done in Horeb, when "Moses took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people; and they said, All that the Lord has said will we do, and be obedient" (see Deuteronomy 24:7 ).