2 Samuel 6

CHAPTER 6

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem (6:1–23)
(1 Chronicles 13:1–14; 15:25–29; 16:1–3)

1–2 Having removed the Philistine threat and having established his capital in Jerusalem, David was now ready to bring the ark of God²¹ from Baalah—that is, Kiriath Jearim (1 Samuel 7:1–2; 1 Chronicles 13:6)—to his new capital, thus making Jerusalem both the political and the religious center of Israel. In bringing the ark to Jerusalem, David was acknowledging that the true King of Israel was the Lord God Himself.

In order to bring the ark from Baalah to Jerusalem safely, David provided a military escort of thirty thousand men. According to 1 Chronicles 13:1–4, David also called upon the whole assembly of Israel—people from every tribe, together with the priests and Levites—to join in transporting the ark to its new home.

3–5 However, David made one serious mistake: he transported the ark on a new cart (verse 3). Moses had specifically commanded that the ark was to be carried by Kohathite Levites using special carrying poles (see Exodus 25:12–14; Numbers 4:15). But at first David did not realize his mistake. The ark was brought from the house of Abinadab (see 1 Samuel 7:1), with Abinadab’s sons (or descendants) guiding it. All the Israelites were joyfully celebrating as they accompanied the ark.

6–7 Then trouble struck at the threshing floor of Nacon.²² Uzzah, one of the men guiding the ark, reached out and took hold of the ark to keep it from falling. The Lord immediately struck him down because of his irreverent act.

The reader is at first shocked by what the Lord did; even David was angry (verse 8). Uzzah was only trying to help; he was trying to honor the Lord by keeping His ark from falling. Why did the Lord punish him so severely?

First of all, as we have seen earlier, the Lord had given detailed instructions concerning the care of His ark. He had warned that even a Kohathite Levite who touched the ark would die (Numbers 4:15)—and there is no evidence that Uzzah was even a Levite. Just looking at the ark was enough to cause one’s death (see Numbers 4:20; 1 Samuel 6:19).

Furthermore, God was so utterly holy that ordinary humans could not look upon Him—or even upon a symbol of His presence—and survive. Only the priests were allowed to handle the most sacred objects. Sinful men had to observe the barrier that existed between themselves and a holy God. Even Moses could not look upon God and live²³ (see Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 6:46; 1 Timothy 6:15–16).

So what are we to learn from Uzzah’s fate? Clearly, in God’s sight, his act was irreverent. He may have had good intentions, but his attitude toward God was wrong. He showed no respect for God’s word; he didn’t take it seriously. We often assume that if our intentions are good, God will approve of whatever we do; but that is a mistaken assumption. By punishing Uzzah, God once again demonstrated to the Israelites that their wellbeing, both as individuals and as a nation, was dependent on their respect for God’s HOLINESS and on their obedience to His commands. And the same is true for us today.

8–11 David’s first reaction to Uzzah’s death was anger (verse 8); the wonderful celebration he had planned was now spoiled. David was probably the one who named that place Perez Uzzah, which means outbreak against Uzzah.”

But then David became afraid of the LORD (verse9). He recognized he was a sinful man; perhaps the Lord’s presence, the Lord’s ark, would cause his death too if it came too close to him. “How can the ark . . . ever come to me?” he asked. And so David decided not to bring the ark to Jerusalem; he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, where it stayed for three months. And while the ark was there, the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s household²⁴ (verse 11).

12–16 During that time, David was made aware of his mistake in transporting the ark on a cart (see 1 Chronicles 15:11–15). In addition, he learned of the blessing ObedEdom had received, and he realized that the Lord’s wrath had been appeased. So David decided once again to bring the ark to Jerusalem-but this time in the right way!

This time the Kohathite Levites carried the ark (1 Chronicles 15:26). After they had taken six steps without mishap, two animals were sacrificed as an expression of devotion and thanksgiving. It is not certain whether animals were sacrificed at each sixstep interval of the journey or not.

David accompanied the ark on its way to Jerusalem. He wore a linen ephod, the outer garment worn by priests and by those such as kings and prophets who were sometimes called upon to perform priestly functions (1 Samuel 2:18), such as offering sacrifices and pronouncing blessings (verses 17–18). Under the ephod David wore a linen robe, such as the Levites wore (1 Chronicles 15:27). David deliberately humbled himself: instead of wearing his royal robes, he dressed in the manner of an ordinary priest or Levite.

As the procession moved along, David danced before the LORD (before the ark) with all his might (verse 14). He was filled with joy at the prospect of the Lord’s ark—the Lord’s rule—being established in Jerusalem. As he rejoiced, he apparently removed one or more of his outer garments; when his wife Michal saw him dancing without his usual kingly garb, she despised him (verse 16).

Surely Michal was embarrassed by David’s unkingly” behavior (see verse 20). But it is also possible that Michal resented David for having forced her to leave her husband Paltiel (see 2 Samuel 3:13–16). Perhaps David only took her back because it would strengthen his claim to the throne of Israel if he remarried Saul’s daughter. Whatever the reason, there was no longer love between David and Michal as there had been at first (1 Samuel 18:20).

17–19 David had prepared a special tent in which to house the ark (verse 17); the original tabernacle (Exodus 26:1–37) had been destroyed when the Philistines attacked Shiloh (Psalm 78:59–61; Jeremiah 7:12–14; 26:4–6). Once the ark was inside the tent, David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings (see Leviticus 1:1–17; 3:1–17) as an act of ATONEMENT and CONSECRATION on behalf of the nation. Then he blessed the people in the name of the LORD (verse 18)—that is, as the Lord’s representative. According to 1 Chronicles 16:4–6, David also appointed various Levites to minister before the ark with praise and music.

Why should Christians be concerned with this ark, this ancient Hebrew relic that was destroyed many centuries ago? The reason: because the ark represented the majesty and the presence of God. And in our day, we Christians also have an “Ark”—and we call Him Jesus Christ. The majesty and the presence of God are in Jesus (Colossians 1:19; 2:9; Hebrews 1:3), and Jesus told us: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

20–23 When Michal complained to David about his disrobing in the sight of . . . slave girls, David rebuked her. He told her that he had been celebrating before the LORD and that in the future he’d become even more undignified in his worship (verse 22); even though he was king he was ready to—humiliate” himself for the Lord’s sake (Matthew 23:12). And those with spiritual discernment—even slave girls—would understand what he was doing and honor him for it.

David was concerned only with what God thought. Michal was concerned only with what people thought. David sought the praise of God; Michal wanted him to have the praise of men. This is a great test for us today: Are we more concerned with what God thinks of us, or with what man thinks of us? Let us not be like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day who loved praise from men more than praise from God (John 12:43). Jesus said, “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15). And the opposite is also true: David’s behavior was detestable in Michal’s sight, but it was valued by God. David sought the praise of God more than the praise of men; he was a man after [God’s] own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

Because of Michal’s hardness of heart, the Lord caused her to be childless (verse 23). Perhaps the Lord knew that if she had a son he might have claimed David’s throne instead of Solomon, and such was not God’s plan. But for us, the lesson is this: when we, like Michal, refuse to worship the Lord with all our heart, not only does our spiritual life dry up but our physical life dries up as well. Free and spontaneous worship is pleasing to the Lord; He always blesses those who worship Him from their heart.²⁵