He held fast to the LORD: The Hebrew verb used here literally means “adhere closely to.” Elsewhere in 2 Kings, it is rendered “clung to” (3.3) and “cleave to” (5.27). Here it is used figuratively to speak of complete devotion or loyalty to Yahweh. Some possible model translations are “He was devoted to Yahweh” (New Jerusalem Bible) and “He remained loyal to the LORD” (Revised English Bible). New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh retains the more literal rendering “He clung to the LORD.”

The negative statement he did not depart from following him, as well as the positive statement kept the commandments …, are further explanations of what it meant to hold fast to the LORD. This repetition of the same essential idea using different words is a way of emphasizing the faithfulness of Hezekiah. Unless it is quite unnatural to repeat the synonymous expressions, they should be retained in translation.

Which the LORD commanded Moses: This kind of wording may give the impression that the commandments were only for Moses and not intended for others. So in some languages it will be better to say something like “which the LORD had given through Moses” or “which the LORD had given to Moses for the people of Israel.”

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