2 Samuel 6 Study Notes

6:12 News of Obed-edom’s prosperity convinced David the ark was safe to move carefully now.

6:13 This time they carried the ark (see note at v. 3). David’s sacrifice of an ox and a fattened calf after the ark had barely moved probably reveals he still had some concerns about the Lord’s anger over the previous incident with Uzzah.

6:14-16 A linen ephod was a fine garment, typically worn by priests or Levites (Ex 28:6; 1Sm 2:18). Although David was dancing in worship before the Lord, the text does not indicate he actually assumed a priestly role. We should not understand v. 13 as meaning David actually performed the sacrifice, though he certainly was leading his people in worship.

The text states one reason why Saul’s daughter Michal . . . saw King David and despised him in her heart is that his actions seemed vulgar to her (cp. v. 20 and note there). In addition to this, perhaps she was not sincere in her faith in the Lord (1Sm 19:13), or perhaps she was angry that David had taken her back from Paltiel (2Sm 3:13-16).

6:17-19 Burnt offerings marked general dedication to God, while fellowship offerings were sacrificial meals shared by priests and worshipers. Fellowship offerings were often presented for special blessings, and bringing the ark to Jerusalem certainly would have qualified as a blessing.

Some suggest that David’s priestly activities relied on an ancient Jerusalemite tradition preserved in Gn 14:18-20 and Ps 110 (R. P. Gordon). Having conquered Jerusalem, David arguably obtained the position of king and priest in the order of Melchizedek. Note David’s sons are designated “priests” in the MT version of 2Sm 8:18.

6:20 Michal disapproved of David’s dancing before the slave girls of his subjects, and she suggested his actions at least bordered on the vulgar. As a daughter of a king herself, she may have wanted King David to be more aloof from the common people.

6:21 David responded sharply. He had danced before the Lord to celebrate God’s goodness on his life. God had chosen him to succeed Saul, Michal’s father, as well as Saul’s whole family. David’s mention of whole household or family was a subtle jab at Michal as well. Perhaps Michal was more a daughter of Saul than she was a wife of David.

6:22 Michal apparently did not think David should humble himself by celebrating as he did, but David insisted that he had acted appropriately and would continue to do so.

6:23 Some suggest Michal’s childlessness was the result of God’s direct judgment, but the text is not clear on this. Her childlessness may have resulted from her and David having no conjugal relations due to the obvious tension in their marriage.