1 Again, David H1732 gathered together H622 H3254 all the chosen H977 men of Israel, H3478 thirty H7970 thousand. H505
And David H1732 consulted H3289 with the captains H8269 of thousands H505 and hundreds, H3967 and with every leader. H5057 And David H1732 said H559 unto all the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 If it seem good H2895 unto you, and that it be of the LORD H3068 our God, H430 let us send H7971 abroad H6555 unto our brethren H251 every where, that are left H7604 in all the land H776 of Israel, H3478 and with them also to the priests H3548 and Levites H3881 which are in their cities H5892 and suburbs, H4054 that they may gather H6908 themselves unto us: And let us bring again H5437 the ark H727 of our God H430 to us: for we enquired H1875 not at it in the days H3117 of Saul. H7586 And all the congregation H6951 said H559 that they would do so: H6213 for the thing H1697 was right H3474 in the eyes H5869 of all the people. H5971
Then came H935 all the tribes H7626 of Israel H3478 to David H1732 unto Hebron, H2275 and spake, H559 saying, H559 Behold, we are thy bone H6106 and thy flesh. H1320
Then Solomon H8010 assembled H6950 the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 and all the heads H7218 of the tribes, H4294 the chief H5387 of the fathers H1 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 unto king H4428 Solomon H8010 in Jerusalem, H3389 that they might bring up H5927 the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 out of the city H5892 of David, H1732 which is Zion. H6726
And David H1732 went up, H5927 and all Israel, H3478 to Baalah, H1173 that is, to Kirjathjearim, H7157 which belonged to Judah, H3063 to bring up H5927 thence the ark H727 of God H430 the LORD, H3068 that dwelleth H3427 between the cherubims, H3742 whose name H8034 is called H7121 on it. And they carried H7392 the ark H727 of God H430 in a new H2319 cart H5699 out of the house H1004 of Abinadab: H41 and Uzza H5798 and Ahio H283 drave H5090 the cart. H5699 And David H1732 and all Israel H3478 played H7832 before H6440 God H430 with all their might, H5797 and with singing, H7892 and with harps, H3658 and with psalteries, H5035 and with timbrels, H8596 and with cymbals, H4700 and with trumpets. H2689 And when they came H935 unto the threshingfloor H1637 of Chidon, H3592 Uzza H5798 put forth H7971 his hand H3027 to hold H270 the ark; H727 for the oxen H1241 stumbled. H8058 And the anger H639 of the LORD H3068 was kindled H2734 against Uzza, H5798 and he smote H5221 him, because he put H7971 his hand H3027 to the ark: H727 and there he died H4191 before H6440 God. H430 And David H1732 was displeased, H2734 because the LORD H3068 had made H6555 a breach H6556 upon Uzza: H5798 wherefore that place H4725 is called H7121 Perezuzza H6560 to this day. H3117 And David H1732 was afraid H3372 of God H430 that day, H3117 saying, H559 How H1963 shall I bring H935 the ark H727 of God H430 home to me? So David H1732 brought H5493 not the ark H727 home to himself to the city H5892 of David, H1732 but carried it aside H5186 into the house H1004 of Obededom H5654 the Gittite. H1663 And the ark H727 of God H430 remained H3427 with the family H1004 of Obededom H5654 in his house H1004 three H7969 months. H2320 And the LORD H3068 blessed H1288 the house H1004 of Obededom, H5654 and all that he had.
[[A Song H7892 of degrees.]] H4609 LORD, H3068 remember H2142 David, H1732 and all his afflictions: H6031 How he sware H7650 unto the LORD, H3068 and vowed H5087 unto the mighty H46 God of Jacob; H3290 Surely I will not come H935 into the tabernacle H168 of my house, H1004 nor go up H5927 into my bed; H6210 H3326 I will not give H5414 sleep H8153 to mine eyes, H5869 or slumber H8572 to mine eyelids, H6079 Until I find out H4672 a place H4725 for the LORD, H3068 an habitation H4908 for the mighty H46 God of Jacob. H3290 Lo, we heard H8085 of it at Ephratah: H672 we found H4672 it in the fields H7704 of the wood. H3293
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Samuel 6
Commentary on 2 Samuel 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
2Sa 6:1-5. David Fetches the Ark from Kirjath-jearim on a New Cart.
1. Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel—(See 2Sa 5:1). The object of this second assembly was to commence a national movement for establishing the ark in Jerusalem, after it had continued nearly fifty years in the house of Abinadab (see on 1Ch 13:1).
2. from Baale of Judah—A very large force of picked men were selected for this important work lest the undertaking might be opposed or obstructed by the Philistines. Besides, a great concourse of people accompanied them out of veneration for the sacred article. The journey to Baale, which is related (1Ch 13:6), is here presupposed, and the historian describes the course of the procession from that place to the capital.
3. they set the ark of God upon a new cart—or a covered wagon (see on 1Sa 6:7). This was a hasty and inconsiderate procedure, in violation of an express statute (see on Nu 4:15 and see Nu 7:9; 18:3).
2Sa 6:6-11. Uzzah Smitten.
6-8. they came to Nachon's threshing-floor—or Chidon's (1Ch 13:9). The Chaldee version renders the words, "came to the place prepared for the reception of the ark," that is, near the city of David (2Sa 6:13).
the oxen shook it—or, "stumbled" (1Ch 13:9). Fearing that the ark was in danger of being overturned, Uzzah, under the impulse of momentary feeling, laid hold of it to keep it steady. Whether it fell and crushed him, or some sudden disease attacked him, he fell dead upon the spot. This melancholy occurrence not only threw a cloud over the joyous scene, but entirely stopped the procession; for the ark was left where it then was, in the near neighborhood of the capital. It is of importance to observe the proportionate severity of the punishments attending the profanation of the ark. The Philistines suffered by diseases, from which they were relieved by their oblations, because the law had not been given to them [1Sa 5:8-12]; the Bethshemites also suffered, but not fatally [1Sa 6:19]; their error proceeded from ignorance or inadvertency. But Uzzah, who was a Levite, and well instructed, suffered death for his breach of the law. The severity of Uzzah's fate may seem to us too great for the nature and degree of the offense. But it does not become us to sit in judgment on the dispensations of God; and, besides, it is apparent that the divine purpose was to inspire awe of His majesty, a submission to His law, and a profound veneration for the symbols and ordinances of His worship.
9, 10. David was afraid of the Lord that day, &c.—His feelings on this alarming judgment were greatly excited on various accounts, dreading that the displeasure of God had been provoked by the removal of the ark, that the punishment would be extended to himself and people, and that they might fall into some error or neglect during the further conveyance of the ark. He resolved, therefore, to wait for more light and direction as to the path of duty. An earlier consultation by Urim would have led him right at the first, whereas in this perplexity and distress, he was reaping the fruits of inconsideration and neglect.
11. Obed-edom the Gittite—a Levite (1Ch 15:18, 21, 24; 16:5; 26:4). He is called a Gittite, either from his residence at Gath, or more probably from Gath-rimmon, one of the Levitical cities (Jos 21:24, 25).
2Sa 6:12-19. David Afterwards Brings the Ark to Zion.
12. it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God—The lapse of three months not only restored the agitated mind of the monarch to a tranquil and settled tone, but led him to a discovery of his former error. Having learned that the ark was kept in its temporary resting-place not only without inconvenience or danger, but with great advantage, he resolved forthwith to remove it to the capital, with the observance of all due form and solemnity (1Ch 15:1-13). It was transported now on the shoulders of the priests, who had been carefully prepared for the work, and the procession was distinguished by extraordinary solemnities and demonstrations of joy.
13. when they that bare the ark … had gone six paces—Some think that four altars were hastily raised for the offering of sacrifices at the distance of every six paces (but see on 1Ch 15:26).
14. David danced before the Lord—The Hebrews, like other ancient people, had their sacred dances, which were performed on their solemn anniversaries and other great occasions of commemorating some special token of the divine goodness and favor.
with all his might—intimating violent efforts of leaping, and divested of his royal mantle (in a state of undress), conduct apparently unsuitable to the gravity of age or the dignity of a king. But it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, his attitudes and dress being symbolic, as they have always been in Oriental countries, of penitence, joy, thankfulness, and devotion. [See on 1Ch 15:27.]
17. they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it—The old tabernacle remained at Gibeon (1Ch 16:39; 21:29; 2Ch 1:3). Probably it was not removed because it was too large for the temporary place the king had appropriated, and because he contemplated the building of a temple.
18. he blessed the people—in the double character of prophet and king (see 1Ki 8:55, 56). [See on 1Ch 16:2.]
19. cake of bread—unleavened and slender.
a good piece of flesh—roast beef.
2Sa 6:20-23. Michal's Barrenness.
20-22. Michal … came out to meet David, &c.—Proud of her royal extraction, she upbraided her husband for lowering the dignity of the crown and acting more like a buffoon than a king. But her taunting sarcasm was repelled in a manner that could not be agreeable to her feelings while it indicated the warm piety and gratitude of David.