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2 Samuel 6

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David Attempts to Move the Ark 1–5

1
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. ​
2
And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. ​
3
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. ​
4
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5
And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

The Death of Uzzah 6–11

6
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. ​
7
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. ​
8
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. ​
9
And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? ​
10
So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
11
And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. ​

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem 12–19

12
And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. ​
13
And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. ​
14
And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. ​
15
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. ​
17
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. ​
18
And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. ​
19
And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. ​

David and Michal Clash 20–23

20
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! ​
21
And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. ​
22
And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. ​
23
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Samuel 6

Verse 1

all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand — 'Chosen' is bachar, picked out, the word used of the LORD's choice of David in v.21. Verse 2 gives the purpose, to bring up the ark; the parallel account adds that 'the thing was right in the eyes of all the people' (1 Chr 13:4).

Verse 2

Baale of Judah — The same place as Kirjathjearim, called 'Baalah' in 1 Chr 13:6, where the ark had stood since 1 Sam 7:1. The ark is the one 'that dwelleth between the cherubims' (kerub), the place where the LORD promised to meet and commune (Ex 25:22).

Verse 3

a new cart — Agalah, a wheeled vehicle, the same kind of 'new cart' the Philistines made for the ark (1 Sam 6:7). The law gave the ark to the Kohathites, who bore 'upon their shoulders' (Num 7:9); David later says 'None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites' (1 Chr 15:2).

Verse 6

Nachon's threshingfloor — Called the threshingfloor of 'Chidon' in 1 Chr 13:9. 'Shook' is shamat, to let fall or stumble. Uzzah 'took hold' of the ark, though of the Kohathites it was said 'they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die' (Num 4:15).

Verse 7

for his error — Shal, a fault or rashness, found only here in the Hebrew Bible. The parallel gives the ground: 'because he put his hand to the ark' (1 Chr 13:10). The holiness of what is near the LORD was also enforced on Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1–3).

Verse 8

Perezuzzah — Perets is a breach, a breaking out; 'the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah' uses the verb parats and the noun together. 'Displeased' is charah, to burn, the very verb of 'the anger of the LORD was kindled' in v.7. The name stood 'to this day'.

Verse 9

David was afraid of the LORD — The question 'How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?' is given in 1 Chr 13:12 as 'How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?' The fear echoes that of Bethshemesh: 'Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?' (1 Sam 6:20).

Verse 11

three months — The ark stayed in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, a man of Gath (Gittiy), and 'the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household'. The parallel notes the same: 'the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had' (1 Chr 13:14).

Verse 12

because of the ark of God — The report of blessing prompts David to bring the ark up 'with gladness' (simchah). The Levites' part is explained in 1 Chr 15:13: 'because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.'

Verse 13

six paces — Tsa'ad is a regular step. After six steps David 'sacrificed oxen and fatlings' (meri, stall-fed beasts). The bearers were Levites, who 'bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon' (1 Chr 15:15), and the parallel records that 'they offered seven bullocks and seven rams' when God helped the Levites (1 Chr 15:26).

Verse 14

danced before the LORD — Karar, to whirl, occurs only here and in v.16. The 'linen ephod' (bad, linen) is the garment of one serving before the LORD, worn also by the child Samuel: 'girded with a linen ephod' (1 Sam 2:18). David danced 'with all his might' (oz, strength).

Verse 16

Michal Saul's daughter — Named by her father, not as David's wife (cf. 2 Sam 3:14, 'my wife Michal'). She 'looked through a window' (shaqaph, to look down from) and 'despised' (bazah, to hold in contempt) him 'in her heart'. The parallel has the same scene (1 Chr 15:29).

Verse 17

the tabernacle that David had pitched for it — Ohel is a tent, pitched by David at Jerusalem (1 Chr 15:1; 2 Chr 1:4). He offered 'burnt offerings' (olah, wholly consumed) and 'peace offerings' (shelem, shared in thanks) before the LORD.

Verse 18

he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts — The blessing follows the offerings, as when Aaron 'blessed them, and came down from offering' (Lev 9:22). The parallel gives 'in the name of the LORD' (1 Chr 16:2); Solomon likewise blessed the congregation (1 Kings 8:55).

Verse 19

a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine — The 'cake' is challah, the 'good piece' eshpar, a measured portion, and the 'flagon' ashishah, a pressed cake of raisins. Given to 'women as men', it appears in 1 Chr 16:3 as 'a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine'.

Verse 20

uncovered himself — Galah, to strip or reveal, is used three times in this verse. Michal's 'vain fellows' are reyq, empty persons, as in 'vain and light persons' (Judg 9:4). Her 'How glorious' (kabad, to be honoured) is meant ironically; the verb returns in v.22 of the maidservants' honour.

Verse 21

which chose me before thy father — Bachar, the verb of v.1. Saul's rejection was announced: 'The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou' (1 Sam 15:28). David is 'ruler' (nagid, leader) over 'the people of the LORD'.

Verse 22

more vile than thus — Qalal, to be light or lightly esteemed, with 'base' (shaphal, low) in his own sight. The honour David expects is from 'the maidservants', the very ones Michal named (v.20), using the same verb kabad. The humbling of the king is set against her claim of dignity.

Verse 23

no child unto the day of her death — The verse follows her words in vv.20–22 with 'Therefore'. 'Child' is yeled, offspring. Michal is here 'the daughter of Saul' (cf. vv.16, 20), and the line of Saul is not continued through her, while the LORD's choice of David (v.21) stands.