2 Samuel chapter 6
Bringing the ark to Jerusalem. David and Michal.
Note: Many people find it morally objectionable that a religion requires the killing of innocent animals.
BRINGING THE ARK TO JERUSALEM
VERSE 1. David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
thirty thousand. This is a vast assembly!
VERSE 2. David arose, and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from there God’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of the LORD of Hosts who sits above the cherubim.
VERSE 3. They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
VERSE 4. They brought it out of Abinadab’s house, which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.
VERSE 5. David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.
played before the LORD. That is, they “made merry before the LORD with all their strength” (NAB translation).
In our day, most of us Christians are reserved and prim and proper. It would be great if we would be like David and make merry before the LORD with all our strength!
VERSE 6. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled.
Uzzah reached for God’s ark. Probably most of us would have done the same thing.
VERSE 7. The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.
God struck him … he died. The punishment was swift. And severe.
VERSE 8. David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day.
Perez Uzzah. That means “outbreak against Uzzah.”
VERSE 9. David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How could the LORD’s ark come to me?”
VERSE 10. So David would not move the LORD’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.
into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. We imagine Obed-Edom was not thrilled about this.
VERSE 11. The LORD’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.
VERSE 12. King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.
brought up God’s ark. David wants it for himself.
VERSE 13. When those who bore the LORD’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
had gone six paces, he sacrificed. He killed two animals every six paces.
This is a stupendous act of killing.
VERSE 14. David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
David was clothed in a linen ephod. David wore nothing but an ephod. That was an ornate bib that was roughly as long as a shirt with tails.
By wearing only the ephod, David was exposing his genitals and bottom to everyone.
VERSE 15. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the LORD’s ark with shouting, and with the sound of the shofar.
DAVID AND MICHAL
VERSE 16. As the LORD’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
she despised him in her heart. Michal despised David not for his dancing, but for exposing his genitals and bottom.
VERSE 17. They brought in the LORD’s ark, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
VERSE 18. When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.
VERSE 19. He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house.
VERSE 20. Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
VERSE 21. David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.
the LORD, who chose me above your father. David speaks with great confidence about to his destiny as leader.
Being confident is not wrong. Unless you are prideful or narcissistic.
Yet being humble is even better. And David was not a humble person.
VERSE 22. I will be yet more vile than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honor me.”
VERSE 23. Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
2 SAMUEL
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, David and Jonathan
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.