2 Samuel 6

1 Forsooth David gathered again all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. (Then David gathered together all the chosen, or all the best, out of Israel, yea, thirty thousand men.)

2 And David rose, and went, and all the people that was with him of the men of Judah, to bring the ark of God, on which the name of the Lord of hosts, sitting in cherubim on that ark, was called. (And David rose up, and then he, and all the people who were with him, went to Baalath in Judah, to bring back from there the Ark of God, which beareth the name of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned upon, or above, the cherubim.)

3 And they putted the ark of God on a new wain, and they took it from the house of Abinadab, that was in Gibeah (And they put the Ark of God on a new wagon, and they took it from Abinadab's house, which was on the hill). And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new wain.

4 And when they had taken it from the house of Abinadab, that was in Gibeah, and kept the ark of God, Ahio went before the ark. (And so they took it from Abinadab's house, which was on the hill, who had kept the Ark of God safe; and Ahio went before the Ark.)

5 And David and all Israel played before the Lord, in all treen instruments of melody, and in harps, and citoles, and tympans, and trumps, and cymbals. (And David and all Israel played music before the Lord, on all the wooden instruments, and on harps, and lutes, and drums, or tambourines, and trumpets, and cymbals.)

6 Forsooth after that they came to the cornfloor of Nachon, Uzzah held forth his hand to the ark of God, and held it, for the oxen kicked, and bowed it. (But when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the Ark of God, and held it, for the oxen stumbled, and shook it.)

7 And the Lord was wroth by indignation against Uzzah, and smote him on the folly (and struck him down for his foolishness in touching the Ark); and he was dead there beside the ark of God.

8 And David was sorry, for the Lord had slain Uzzah; and the name of that place was called The Smiting of Uzzah till into this day. (And David was grieved that the Lord had killed Uzzah; and the name of that place is called Perezuzzah, or the Punishment of Uzzah, unto this day.)

9 And David dreaded the Lord in that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord enter to me? (And David feared the Lord that day, and said, How can I bring the Ark of the Lord back with me?)

10 And (so) he would not turn [aside] the ark of the Lord (un)to himself into the city of David, but he turned it [aside] into the house of Obededom of Gath.

11 And the ark of the Lord dwelled in the house of Obededom of Gath three months; and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his house(hold). (And the Ark of the Lord stayed at the house of Obededom the Gittite for three months; and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his family.)

12 And it was told to king David, that the Lord had blessed Obededom, and all his things, for the ark of God. And David said, I shall go, and bring the ark with blessing into mine house. Therefore David went, and brought the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with joy. (And it was told to King David, that the Lord had blessed Obededom, and all that he had/and all that was his, for keeping the Ark of God safe. And David said, Now I shall go, and bring the Ark of God with blessing to my house. And so David went, and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obededom to the City of David with great joy.)

13 And when they, that bare the ark of the Lord, had gone six paces, they offered an ox and a ram. (And when they, who carried the Ark of the Lord, had gone six paces, he offered an ox and a ram.)

14 And David smote in organs fastened to his arm (And David played on an instrument fastened to his arm); and he danced with all his strengths before the Lord; and David was clothed with (only) a linen surplice.

15 And David, and all the house of Israel, led forth the ark of [the] testament of the Lord/the ark of [the] witnessing of the Lord in hearty song, and in sound of trump. (And David, and all the house of Israel, brought forth the Ark of the Lord with hearty song, and the sound of trumpets.)

16 And when the ark of the Lord had entered into the city of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, beheld by a window, and she saw the king skipping and dancing/hopping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and setted it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle, which tabernacle David had made therefore/had made ready thereto; and David offered burnt sacrifices and peaceable (sacrifices) before the Lord. (And they brought in the Ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, in the midst of the Tent, which David had prepared for it; and David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the Lord.)

18 And when David had ended those, and had offered burnt sacrifices and peaceable (sacrifices), he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts. (And when David had finished offering the burnt sacrifices and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.)

19 And he gave to all the multitude of Israel, as well to man as to woman, to each a cake of bread, and one part roasted of bugle flesh, and flour of wheat fried with oil; and all the people went forth, each into his house. (And he gave to all the multitude of Israel, yea, to each man and woman, a cake of bread, and a piece of roasted ox flesh, and wheat flour fried with oil; and then all the people went home.)

20 And David turned again to bless his house, and Michal, the daughter of Saul, went out into the coming of David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants, and he was made naked, as if one of the knaves had been made naked? (And David returned to bless his own house, and Michal, Saul's daughter, went out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself before the slave-girls of his servants, yea, he was made naked, just like one of the knaves would be made naked!)

21 And David said to Michal, The Lord liveth, for I shall play, (or I shall dance,) before the Lord, that chose me rather than thy father, and rather than all the house of him, and commanded to me, that I should be duke on the people of the Lord of Israel; and I shall play, (And David said to Michal, As the Lord liveth, I shall dance before the Lord, who chose me rather than thy father, and all of his family, and who commanded to me that I should be the leader of the people of the Lord of Israel; and so I shall dance,)

22 and I shall be made more vile than I am yet made, and I shall be meek in mine eyes, and I shall appear more glorious with those handmaidens, of which thou hast spoken. (and I shall be made even more vile than I am yet made, and I shall be abased in thine eyes, but I shall appear more glorious to those slave-girls of whom thou hast spoken.)

23 Therefore a son was not born to Michal, the daughter of Saul, till into the day of her death. (And so no child was ever born to Saul's daughter Michal, unto the day of her death.)

2 Samuel 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

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)

Verses 1-5 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, ( Matthew 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.

Verses 6-11 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.

Verses 12-19 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 ( 1 Peter. 2:6-8 ) 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.

Verses 20-23 David returned to bless his household, to pray with them, and for them, and to offer up family thanksgiving for this national mercy. It is angels' work to worship God, surely that cannot lower the greatest of men. But even the palaces of princes are not free from family troubles. Exercises of religion appear mean in the eyes of those who have little or no religion themselves. If we can approve ourselves to God in what we do in religion, and do it as before the Lord, we need not heed reproach. Piety will have its praise: let us not be indifferent in it, nor afraid or ashamed to own it. David was contented to justify himself, and he did not further reprove or blame Michal's insolence; but God punished her. Those that honour God, he will honour; but those that despise him, and his servants and service, shall be lightly esteemed.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 6

In this chapter we are told that David fetched the ark from Baale of Judah, with an intent to bring it to his own city, 2Sa 6:1-5; but Uzzah being smitten for his error concerning it, David was displeased, and left it at the house of Obededom, where it remained three months, and proved a blessing to his house, 2Sa 6:6-11; which David hearing of, went and brought it from thence with great expressions of joy before it as it came along, and offered offerings to the Lord at the setting it in its place, and gave gifts to the people, 2Sa 6:12-19; but Michal his wife was displeased with some of his gestures on that occasion, which made some difference between them, and which, on Michal's part, was resented by the Lord himself; for she became barren for it to the time of her death, 2Sa 6:20-23.