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2 Samuel 6

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David Attempts to Move the Ark 1–5

1
And David again 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-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that sitteth above the cherubim. ​
3
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. ​
4
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5
And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.

The Death of Uzzah 6–11

6
And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled. ​
7
And the anger of Jehovah 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 Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place Perez-uzzah, unto this day. ​
9
And David was afraid of Jehovah that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Jehovah come unto me? ​
10
So David would not remove the ark of Jehovah unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
11
And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all his house. ​

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem 12–19

12
And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. ​
13
And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. ​
14
And David danced before Jehovah 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 Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16
And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart. ​
17
And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah. ​
18
And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts. ​
19
And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion of flesh, and a cake of raisins. 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 Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: therefore will I play before Jehovah. ​
22
And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in mine own sight: but of the handmaids of whom thou hast spoken, of them shall I be had in honor. ​
23
And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · 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 — It is 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 — She is 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.