OET interlinear 2 KI 23:3

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: translate-symaction

וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֣ד הַ֠⁠מֶּלֶךְ עַֽל־הָ֨⁠עַמּ֜וּד

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

The author says in [11:14](../11/14.md) that it was a “custom” for a new king to stand “by the pillar,” apparently a certain one of the pillars on the temple porch, as a visible sign of his loyalty to Yahweh. Josiah had already been the king for 18 years, but he was now symbolizing that he and his people were making a new start by together pledging their loyalty to Yahweh. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could explain the significance of this action in the text or in a footnote. Alternate translation: [And the king stood by the pillar to show that he and his people were making a new start]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וַ⁠יִּכְרֹ֥ת אֶֽת־הַ⁠בְּרִ֣ית

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

See how you translated the similar expression in [11:4](../11/04.md). Alternate translation: [and he made a covenant]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy

לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה

to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH

See how you translated the similar expression in [3:14](../03/14.md). Alternate translation: [in the presence of Yahweh]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לָ⁠לֶ֜כֶת אַחַ֤ר יְהוָה֙

to=go after YHWH

See how you translated the similar expression in [8:18](../08/18.md). Alternate translation: [to live as Yahweh wished]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

מִצְוֺתָ֜י⁠ו וְ⁠אֶת־עֵדְוֺתָ֤י⁠ו וְ⁠אֶת־חֻקֹּתָי⁠ו֙

commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

The terms commandments, testimonies, and statutes mean similar things. The author is using the three terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [all of his commandments]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

בְּ⁠כָל־לֵ֣ב וּ⁠בְ⁠כָל־נֶ֔פֶשׁ

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

The author is referring to all of a person by naming two major components of a person, his heart and his soul. These represent overlapping aspects of the inner life of a person, representing a person’s thoughts, feelings, desires, and intentions. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. If you have already translated the book of 1 Kings, see how you translated the similar expression in [1 Kings 2:4](../1ki/02/04.md). Alternate translation: [wholeheartedly] or [with his entire being]

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

לְ⁠הָקִ֗ים אֶת־דִּבְרֵי֙ הַ⁠בְּרִ֣ית הַ⁠זֹּ֔את

to,establish DOM (Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

The author is speaking as if the words of this covenant were objects that Josiah could raise up. He means that Josiah pledged to make happen what the covenant said should happen. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning plainly. If you have already translated the book of 1 Kings, see how you translated the similar expression in [1 Kings 2:4](../1ki/02/04.md). Alternate translation: [to make happen what the covenant said] or [to bring the covenant back into effect]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

הַ⁠כְּתֻבִ֖ים עַל־הַ⁠סֵּ֣פֶר הַ⁠זֶּ֑ה

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

The expression written is a passive verbal form. If your language would not use that form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that would be natural in your language. Alternate translation: [that that scroll recorded]

Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

וַ⁠יַּעֲמֹ֥ד כָּל־הָ⁠עָ֖ם בַּ⁠בְּרִֽית

(Some words not found in UHB: and,he_stood the=king on/upon the,pillar and,he_made DOM the,covenant to=(the)_face_of/in_front_of/before YHWH to=go after YHWH and,to,keep commandments_of,his and=DOM testimonies_of,his and=DOM statutes_of,his in=all heart and=on/over=all creature to,establish DOM words_of of,the_covenant (the),this [which,were]_written on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in the,scroll the=this and,it_took_its_stand all/each/any/every the,people in,covenant )

The author is using stood in the covenant as a common expression of his culture to mean “agreed to the covenant” or “became parties to the covenant.” If this phrase does not have that meaning in your language, you could use a comparable expression from your language that does have that meaning, or you could state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [And all of the people joined in the covenant] or [And all of the people agreed to the terms of the covenant]