2 Samuel6
New Living Translation
1Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all.
2He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.
3They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart
4that carried the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark.
5David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.
7Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.
8David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.
9David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?”
10So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.
11The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
12Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration.
13After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
14And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.
15So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.
16But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.
17They brought the Ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.
18When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
19Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.
20When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!”
21David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.
22Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”
23So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Samuel 6.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The ark removed from Kirjath-jearim. (1–5). Uzzah smitten for touching the ark, Obed-edom blessed. (6–11). David brings the ark to Zion. (12–19). Michal's ill conduct. (20–23).
vv1-5
God is present with the souls of his people, when they want the outward tokens of his presence; but now David is settled in the throne, the honour of the ark begins to revive. Let us learn hence, to think and to speak highly of God; and to think and speak honourably of holy ordinances, which are to us as the ark was unto Israel, the tokens of God's presence, Mt 28:20. Christ is our Ark; in and by him God manifests his favour, and accepts our prayers and praises. The ark especially typified Christ and his mediation, in which the name of Jehovah and all his glories are displayed. The priests should have carried the ark upon their shoulders. Philistines may carry the ark in a cart without suffering for it; but if Israelites do so, it is at their peril, because this was not what God appointed.
vv6-11
Uzzah was struck dead for touching the ark. God saw presumption and irreverence in Uzzah's heart. Familiarity, even with that which is most awful, is apt to breed contempt. If it were so great a crime for one to lay hold on the ark of the covenant who had no right to do so, what is it for those to lay claim to the privileges of the covenant that come not up to the terms of it? Obed-edom opened his doors without fear, knowing the ark was a savour of death unto death to those only who treated it wrong. The same hand that punished Uzzah's proud presumption, rewarded Obed-edom's humble boldness. Let none think the worse of the gospel for the judgments on those that reject it, but consider the blessings it brings to all who receive it. Let masters of families be encouraged to keep up religion in their families. It is good to live in a family that entertains the ark, for all about it will fare the better.
vv12-19
It became evident, that happy was the man who had the ark near him. Christ is indeed a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those that believe, he is a Corner-stone, elect, precious, 1Pe 2:6–8. Let us be religious. Is the ark a blessing to others' houses? We may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it away from our neighbours. David, at first setting out, offered sacrifices to God. We are likely to speed in our enterprises, when we begin with God, and give diligence to seek peace with him. And we are so unworthy, and our services are so defiled, that all our joy in God must be connected with repentance and faith in the Redeemer's atoning blood. David attended with high expressions of joy. We ought to serve God with our whole body and soul, and with every endowment and power we possess. On this occasion David laid aside his royal robes, and put on a plain linen dress. David prayed with and for the people, and as a prophet, solemnly blessed them in the name of the Lord.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
יָסַף: to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
אָסַף: to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
בָּחַר: properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
יִשְׂרָאֵל: Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שְׁלוֹשִׁים: thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth
אֶלֶף: hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
יָלַךְ: to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
2 Samuel 6Parallel account detailing how they carried the ark of God in a new cart from Abinadab's house.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel record of Uzza reaching out his hand at Chidon's (Nachon's) threshingfloor.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account confirming the Lord smote Uzza so that he died before God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David corrects the error, noting the breach occurred because they did not seek God after the due order.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Law forbidding Levites to touch holy things and commanding them to bear the ark on shoulders.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Statute directing that the service of the sanctuary belonged unto the sons of Kohath upon shoulders.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account recording that the ark remained with Obed-edom three months and was blessed.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account describing Michal, Saul's daughter, looking through a window and despising David.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel record of setting the ark in the tent David had pitched.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account of David blessing the people in the name of the Lord after offerings.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel of David distributing bread, meat, and wine to every Israelite.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Philistines' use of a new cart, which Israel improperly imitated.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prior fatal divine judgment on the men of Beth-shemesh for looking into the ark irreverently.
Supported by JFB
Parallel account of David's fear and his question of how to bring the ark to him.
Supported by JFB
David declares none ought to carry the ark but the Levites, rectifying the initial error.
Supported by JFB