2 Samuel 6:11-21

11 Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD ¹blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem

12 Now it was told King David, saying, "The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God." ²David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into ³the city of David with gladness.

13 And so it was, that when the ⁴bearers of the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ⁵ox and a fatling.

14 And ⁶David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was ⁷wearing a linen ephod.

15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet.

16 Then it happened as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David that ⁸Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

17 So they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it ⁹in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and ¹⁰David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, ¹¹he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house.

20 But when David returned to bless his household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! ¹²He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of the ¹³foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!"

21 So David said to Michal, "¹⁴It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.

2 Samuel 6:11-21 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.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 30:27; Genesis 39:5
• 2. 1 Chr 15:25-16:3
• 3. 1 Kings 8:1
• 4. Numbers 4:15; Joshua 3:3; 1 Chronicles 15:2, 15
• 5. 1 Kings 8:5
• 6. Exodus 15:20, 21; Judges 11:34
• 7. Exodus 19:6; 1 Samuel 2:18, 28
• 8. 2 Samuel 3:14
• 9. 1 Chronicles 15:1; 2 Chronicles 1:4
• 10. 1 Kings 8:62-65
• 11. 1 Kings 8:14, 15
• 12. 2 Samuel 6:14, 16; Ecclesiastes 7:17
• 13. Judges 9:4
• 14. 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Samuel 15:28

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "girded with"