2 Samuel 6:1-5

David Moves the Ark

1 David again assembled all the choice men in Israel,^[a] 30,000.

2 He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.^[b][c]The ark is called by the Name, the name of the Lord of Hosts who dwells [between] the cherubim.^[d]

3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab's house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio,^[e] sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart

4 and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab's house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark.

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all [kinds of] fir wood [instruments],^[f] lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,^[g] and cymbals.

2 Samuel 6:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Footnotes

• [a] 2 Sm 10:9; 1 Sm 24:2; 26:2; 1 Ch 19:10
• [b] Alt name for Kiriath-jearim
• [c] 1 Sm 7:1; 1 Ch 13:6
• [d] Ex 25:22
• [e] Or and his brothers
• [f] DSS, LXX read with tuned instruments with strength, with songs; 1 Ch 13:8
• [g] an Egyptian percussion instrument