2 Samuel 6:4

4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.

2 Samuel 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 6:4

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which [was]
at Gibeah
That is, the new cart, which is the last thing spoken of, ( 2 Samuel 6:3 ) ; and the bringing of the ark out of his house is mentioned before; though some take this to be the coffer in which were the presents of the Philistines, which was now brought out along with the ark, see ( 1 Samuel 6:8 ) ;

accompanying the ark of God;
or "with the ark of God" F6; that is, they brought the new cart "from" the house of Abinadab on the hill, with the ark of God upon it:

and Ahio went before the ark;
guiding the oxen that drew it, and Uzzah might go behind, or on one side, to take care that the ark fell not out of it.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 (Myhlah Nwra Me) "cum arca Dei", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Piscator.

2 Samuel 6:4 In-Context

2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.
3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart,
4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
5 And David and all the house of Israel were making merry before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.