This verse, which continues the sentence begun in verse 2, further states what the result will be if Solomon obeys God’s commandments. In order to make clear the relationship of this verse to the preceding verses, Good News Translation adds the words “If you obey him” at the beginning of a new sentence. This kind of restructuring may be an appropriate model in many other languages.

Since David is speaking, the pronoun me in concerning me refers to David. Likewise, the pronouns your and you in the embedded quotation of God’s words refer to David. Verse 3 indicates that Solomon must obey God for God to keep his promise to David. Now verse 4 states that Solomon’s descendants, as well as Solomon, must also obey God. Contemporary English Version may provide a helpful model for the whole verse without the embedded quotation, as David continues speaking to Solomon:

• You and your descendants must always faithfully obey the LORD. If you do, he will keep the solemn promise he made to me that someone from our family will always be king of Israel.

The LORD may establish his word which he spoke concerning me: The Hebrew verb rendered establish is literally “cause to arise” or “cause to stand.” The sense is that God will cause his word, that is, what he promised, to come into existence. This verb is often used in the Old Testament in reference to God’s covenant, as God brings into existence a covenant with his people which did not previously exist. The expression establish his word which he spoke concerning me may be translated “fulfill the promise that He made concerning me” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) or “accomplish what he promised to me.”

If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul: Take heed to their way means that Solomon and his descendants should “pay attention to their conduct” (Parole de Vie). The verb walk is used in a figurative sense as in the previous verse, so walk before me in faithfulness means that they should live in faithfulness to the LORD. The expression with all their heart and with all their soul is a common Old Testament way saying “earnestly,” “sincerely,” or “completely.” It occurs often in the book of Deuteronomy (4.29; 6.5; 10.12; 11.13; 13.3; 26.16; 30.2, 6, 10). The heart refers to the intellect or will, while the soul stands for the emotions or feelings.

There shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel is literally “there shall not be cut off to you a man from on the throne of Israel.” These same words occur again in 1 Kgs 8.25 and 9.5. For throne see 1 Kgs 1.13. Most interpreters understand Israel here as a reference to the united kingdom of the southern tribe of Judah and the northern tribes of Israel. It is, however, quite possible that Israel here (and in 1 Kgs 8.25 and 9.5) refers only to the northern kingdom. If this second interpretation is followed, the sense is that David’s descendants will rule over the tribes of the north as well as over Judah, if they keep the Law. Some common language models for translating this expression are “your line on the throne of Israel shall never end” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “you shall never lack a successor on the throne of Israel” (Revised English Bible). Several versions transform the negative expression into a positive statement; for example, “you shall always have someone of your line on the throne of Israel” (New American Bible) and “a man from your family will always be king over the people of Israel” (New Century Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .