Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Kings 23:3

"And the king stood by the pillar, and made a covenant before Jehovah, to walk after Jehovah, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all [his] heart, and all [his] soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book: and all the people stood to the covenant." — 2 Kings 23:3 (ASV)

By a pillar. — On the stand or dais (2 Kings 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 covenant — i.e., entered it; took the same pledge as the king (Compare to 2 Kings 18:28).