2 Samuel 6:16

Michal’s Contempt for David

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. ¹

2 Samuel 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

2 Samuel 6:16

And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David
Being brought thither on the shoulders of the Levites:

Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window;
in the king's palace, to see the procession, which was very grand, and in great pomp, attended by a vast number of people, and with music of all sorts. She is said to be Saul's daughter, though David's wife, as having a good deal of her father's haughty temper and disposition, as appears by what follows:

and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord;
the ark of the Lord, by these outward gestures expressing the inward joy of his heart on this occasion;

and she despised him in her heart;
as acting a mean part, quite beneath himself, and unbecoming his royal dignity.

2 Samuel 6:16 In-Context

14 And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

15 while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

17 So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18 When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.

Cross References

• 1. (1 Chronicles 15:29—16:3)