Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 23:3
And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
3. And the king stood by a [R.V. the ] pillar ] See 2Ki 11:14 and the notes there.
to walk after the Lord &c.] The words of the covenant are dictated by Deu 13:4.
all their [R.V. his ] heart and all their [R.V. his ] soul ] This was the king’s own solemn pledge.
to perform [R.V. confirm ] the words of this covenant ] ‘Confirm’ is the rendering of this verb in A.V. in a very similar passage (Deu 27:26) ‘Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them’.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
By a pillar – Rather, upon the pillar (see 2Ki 11:14, note).
Made a covenant – The covenant. Josiah renewed the old covenant made between God and His people in Horeb Deu 5:2, so far at least as such renewal was possible by the mere act of an individual. He bound himself by a solemn promise to the faithful performance of the entire Law.
With all their heart – Their rather than his, because the king was considered as pledging the whole nation to obedience with himself. He and they stood to it, i. e., accepted it, came into the covenant.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 3. Stood by a pillar] He stood, al haammud, “upon the stairs or pulpit.” This is what is called the brazen scaffold or pulpit which Solomon made, and on which the kings were accustomed to stand when they addressed the people. See 2Ch 6:13, and the parallel places.
Made a covenant] This was expressed,
1. In general. To walk after Jehovah; to have no gods besides him.
2. To take his law for the regulation of their conduct.
3. In particular. To bend their whole heart and soul to the observance of it, so that, they might not only have religion without, but, piety within.
To this all the people stood up, thus giving their consent, and binding themselves to obedience.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By the pillar; of which See Poole “2Ki 11:14“; See Poole “2Ch 34:31“.
To the covenant, to wit, as to the taking of it; they declared their consent to it, and their concurrence with the king in that act, which possibly they did by standing upright, as the king himself stood when he took it.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. all the people stood to thecovenantthat is, they agreed to the proposals made; theyassented to what was required of them.
2Ki23:4-28. HE DESTROYSIDOLATRY.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the king stood by a pillar,…. As the manner of kings was, 2Ki 11:14 and is thought to be the brasen scaffold erected by Solomon, on which he stood at the dedication of the temple, and now Josiah at the reading of the law, 2Ch 6:13, it is said to be his place, 2Ch 34:31,
[See comments on 2Ki 11:14]
and made a covenant before the Lord: agreed and promised in the presence of God, both he and his people:
to walk after the Lord: the worship of the Lord, as the Targum; closely to attend to that:
and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes: all the laws of God, moral, civil, and ceremonial:
with all their heart, and all their soul: cordially and sincerely:
to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book: lately found, and now read unto them:
and all the people stood to the covenant: agreed to it, and promised to keep it; so the Targum,
“all the people took upon them the covenant,”
engaged to observe it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(3) By a pillar.On the stand or dais (2Ki. 11:14).
A covenant.The covenant, which had so often been broken. Josiah pledged himself to walk after the Lord, and imposed a similar pledge on the people.
Stood to the covenanti.e., entered it; took the same pledge as the king. (Comp. 2Ki. 18:28.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
3. Stood by a pillar Rather, by the pillar: the same pillar by which the youthful Joash stood when the high priest Jehoiada made a covenant between the king and the people. See note on 2Ki 11:14.
All the people stood to the covenant They entered into the covenant like the king, by taking upon themselves solemn vows and oaths to keep the commandments. Stanley remarks that it was “one of those national vows or covenants which were in the monarchy what the vows of individuals had been in the earlier stages of the nation.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
DISCOURSE: 381
COVENANTING WITH GOD
2Ki 23:3. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
LITTLE do men in general consider the benefit they receive from the sacred oracles, and the stated ordinances of divine worship. Without these, the remembrance of God would soon vanish: whereas by these we are constantly reminded of the obligations we are under to love and serve him. In the days of King Josiah the inspired volume was altogether lost, and the Temple of Jehovah had been suffered to fall into decay. The pious monarch having ordered the temple to be repaired, the book of God was found. Immediately the contents of it were read to him: and, when he saw what judgments it denounced against his nation, he sought to avert them by turning to the Lord his God. He summoned all the priests, and prophets, and people of Jerusalem, and engaged them to make a solemn covenant with God, that they would henceforth serve him with their whole heart.
This instructive record shews us, that,
I.
Persons in authority should use their influence to promote religion
[Many of the Jewish kings were patrons of real piety: but among them all there was not one who equalled Josiah in integrity of heart and devotedness of soul [Note: ver. 25.]. The use which he made of his authority is sufficiently declared in the history before us. But we must not imagine that such exertions belong only to rulers and governors: whether our influence extend over a kingdom, or only to a parish, or a single family, it should be improved for God. Ministers should labour by all possible means to bring their people to God: and every parent, or master of a family, should study to advance the eternal interest of those, who, by the providence of God, are committed to his care. Nor should any be deterred by the degeneracy of the times: for the state of religion cannot well be reduced to a lower ebb than it was in the days of Josiah: and, if it were, that would only be a reason for our more earnest exertions in the cause of God. Nor can we easily conceive how much good might be done by the labours of au individual. The effects of Josiahs reformation continued throughout all his reign [Note: 2Ch 34:32-33.]: and, though persons in inferior stations cannot hope to produce the sudden and extensive change that he did, yet their labours may convey incalculable benefit to the latest generations: the good impressions that are made on a few will stimulate them to impart the same benefits to their neighbours, and to seek the welfare of those who are within the sphere of their influence: those again will adopt the same line of conduct towards others; and thus the benefit will be perpetually transmitted from age to age. What might not be hoped for, if magistrates and ministers, parents and masters, would combine in this good work?]
To this we may be encouraged by the consideration that,
II.
Such exertions will be acceptable to those who feel their need of mercy
[They who are wholly unconcerned about their souls will probably regard such efforts as officious, ostentatious, hypocritical. But if once they become, like the Jews on this occasion, sensible of their guilt and danger, they will no longer consider a reformer as an enemy to the happiness of mankind, but as a blessing to the world. How often is it seen that they who once despised and persecuted a minister for his piety, will send for him in a time of sickness, and be exceeding thankful for his instructions and his prayers! and many who once joined in condemning him for his zeal, will afterwards go statedly many miles to attend his ministry. Such is the effect even among strangers and aliens: how much more therefore may we hope to find this acquiescence, when our counsels are enforced with the endearments of affection, or the weight of legitimate authority! Indeed, such interference is expected of us: and we lower ourselves in the estimation even of the ungodly, in proportion as we decline, whether through indolence or fear, these offices of Christian love.]
Such exertions, I say, will be acceptable to many;
III.
Nor will the strictest commands of Gods covenant be deemed harsh by those who are in earnest about their souls
[Men regardless of their eternal state will scarcely hear of any restraint: they will plead for the utmost latitude of indulgence: and when forced by their convictions to concede somewhat of their fancied rights, they will yield only as Pharaoh did, when necessitated by a sense of present judgments, and the fear of more. He at first would not suffer the Hebrews to sacrifice to their God at all: then he would permit it in the land of Egypt: then it might be in the borders of the wilderness: then the men might go, but they must leave their little ones as a pledge of their return: then the women and children might go, but not the cattle: at last he was glad to get rid of all [Note: Exo 8:25; Exo 8:28; Exo 10:11; Exo 10:24; Exo 12:31-33.]. Thus sinners will plead for this and that sin as long as they can entertain any hope of safety in the indulgence of it; but when they feel themselves utterly undone, they will cast out of the vessel the tackle and the wheat itself, rather than perish in the great abyss [Note: Act 27:38.]. Yes, let them be really persuaded that the care of their souls is the one thing needful, and they will consent that God shall prescribe his own terms: they will say, with Saul, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do [Note: Act 9:6.]? The covenant which Josiah proposed was exceeding strict; they were to keep Gods commandments, and testimonies, and statutes, yea, to keep them with all their heart, and with all their soul; but they did not object to the terms; on the contrary, we are told they stood to the covenant. Thus it should be with us also: the most self-denying commandment should not appear grievous [Note: 1Jn 5:3.], but holy, and just, and good [Note: Rom 7:12.]; and we should cordially submit to it without any limitations or reserves.]
We shall not dismiss this subject without adding a word,
1.
Of reproof
[How many instead of using all their influence for God, exert it in the service of the devil! We speak not merely of those who tempt others to drunkenness, lewdness, or any other gross iniquity; but of those who by their vain, worldly, or careless conduct lead others to think lightly of sin, and to live in a neglect of their souls. In this way every person, whatever be his station, exerts, however unintentionally, a very extensive influence, which by a different conduct might be turned to good account. Say not, like Cain, Am I my brothers keeper? for all of you are accountable to God for the use which you make of your influence; and you will receive from God, not only according to the good or evil which you have done yourselves, but according to that which you have occasioned in others.]
2.
Of caution
[We are ready in a time of sickness, and under convictions of sin, to make covenants with God; like the Israelites who said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient [Note: Exo 24:7.]. But when we make them in our own strength, we shall violate them exactly as they did. Let not any then be hasty in making vows, or think that they can execute them by any power of their own. To give up ourselves to God is certainly right; but in order to do it effectually, we must be strong, not in ourselves, but in the Lord, and in the power of his might [Note: Eph 6:10.].]
3.
Of consolation
[If we were to be saved by our own faithfulness, who amongst us would be able to stand before God? Alas! our own goodness has often been as the morning dew, and as the early cloud that passeth away. But, thanks be to God! there is a covenant made by our great Head and Surety [Note: Psa 89:3; Psa 89:28; Psa 89:34-36.]; a covenant in which we all are interested; a covenant ordered in all things and sure [Note: 2Sa 23:5 with Jer 31:31-34; Jer 32:38-41.]. Let this then be the real ground of our hope: let us lay hold on it, and cleave unto it. Let not, however, our affiance in this tempt us to violate our own engagements; for negligence in performing our vows to God will infallibly prove us to be strangers to the Gospel-covenant. Let us rather give ourselves wholly to the Lord; that while we trust in the blood of the everlasting covenant, we may approve ourselves to him as good and faithful servants.]
Fuente: Charles Simeon’s Horae Homileticae (Old and New Testaments)
The covenant here spoken of means the renewal of that gracious one the Lord had vouchsafed in times past, when he formed Israel into a church; in which God graciously said, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Implying the people’s hearty and joyful consent to have God for their God in a covenant way, as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Exo 19:5-6 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
Ver. 3. And the king stood by a pillar. ] See 2Ki 11:14 .
To walk after the Lord.
And all the people stood to the covenant.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
by a pillar: or, on the pillar, or, platform. Compare 2Ki 11:14.
soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13.
written. See App-47.
stood. But not for long. See Jer 11:2-20.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
stood: 2Ki 11:14, 2Ki 11:17, 2Ch 23:13, 2Ch 34:31, 2Ch 34:32
made a covenant: Exo 24:7, Exo 24:8, Deu 5:1-3, Deu 29:1, Deu 29:10-15, Jos 24:25, 2Ch 15:12-14, 2Ch 23:16, 2Ch 29:10, Ezr 10:3, Neh 9:38, Neh 10:28-39, Jer 50:5, Heb 8:8-13, Heb 12:24, Heb 13:20
to walk: Deu 8:19
his commandments: Deu 4:45, Deu 5:1, Deu 6:1, Psa 19:7-9
with all their heart: Deu 6:5, Deu 10:12, Deu 11:13, Mat 22:36, Mat 22:37
And all: Exo 24:3, Jos 24:24, 2Ch 34:32, 2Ch 34:33, Ecc 8:2, Jer 4:2
Reciprocal: Deu 4:29 – with all Deu 13:4 – walk 1Ki 2:4 – walk 1Ki 8:22 – stood before the altar 2Ki 11:4 – made a covenant 2Ki 23:25 – that turned 2Ch 6:12 – he stood Neh 5:12 – I called Neh 5:13 – the people Neh 10:29 – to walk Psa 119:106 – that I will Jer 11:2 – General Jer 29:13 – with Jer 34:8 – had Jer 34:15 – ye had Eze 4:6 – forty days
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 23:3. The king stood by a pillar Of which see on chap. 2Ki 11:14. And made a covenant before the Lord The king himself was the first and principal covenanter, who publicly and solemnly declared his consent to this covenant, to set the elders, priests, and people an example, and to assure them not only of his protection, but of all the furtherance his power could give them in their obedience. And all the people stood to the covenant They declared their consent to it, and their concurrence with the king in that act, which possibly they did by standing up, as the king himself stood when ha took it. It is of good use, with all possible solemnity, to oblige ourselves to our duty: and he that bears an honest heart, does not startle at assurances.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:3 And the king stood by {b} a pillar, and made a {c} covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.
(b) Where the king had his place, 2Ki 11:14.
(c) As Joshua did, Jos 24:22; Jos 24:25.