1Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2And David rose up and went, and all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of Jehovah of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3And they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4They brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God; and Ahio was going before the ark. 5And David and all the house of Israel were making sport before Jehovah with all manner of fir wood; with harps, with lutes, with tambourines, with rattles and buzzing. 6And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah stretched out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen had fallen. 7And the anger of Jehovah burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8And David was furious because Jehovah had used violence and burst forth against Uzzah; thus the name of the place is called Perez Uzzah to this day. 9And David was afraid of Jehovah that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Jehovah come to me? 10So David was not willing to remove the ark of Jehovah to himself into the City of David; but David turned it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And Jehovah blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. 12And it was reported to King David, saying, Jehovah has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13And so it was, when those bearing the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14And David was dancing before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of Jehovah with shouting and with the sound of the shofar. 16And as the ark of Jehovah was coming into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart. 17And they brought the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place in the midst of the tent that David had erected for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Jehovah. 18And when David finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of Hosts. 19And he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a cake of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. And all the people departed, everyone to his house. 20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the worthless fellows uncovers to reveal himself! 21And David said to Michal, It was before Jehovah, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. Therefore I have danced before Jehovah. 22And I have been even more lightly esteemed than this, and humble in my own eyes. But as for the handmaids of whom you have spoken, by them I was honored. 23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 DAVID FETCHES THE ARK FROM KIRJATH-JEARIM ON A NEW CART. (
2Sam 6:1-5)
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel--(See
2Sam 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
1Chr 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 (
1Chr 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
1Sam 6:7). This was a hasty and inconsiderate procedure, in violation of an express statute (see on
Num 4:15 and see
Num 7:9;
Num 18:3).
6 UZZAH SMITTEN. (
2Sam 6:6-11)
they came to Nachon's threshing-floor--or Chidon's (
1Chr 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 (
2Sam 6:13).
the oxen shook it--or, "stumbled" (
1Chr 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 [
1Sam 5:8-12]; the Bethshemites also suffered, but not fatally [
1Sam 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 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 (
1Chr 15:18,
1Chr 15:21,
1Chr 15:24;
1Chr 16:5;
1Chr 26:4). He is called a Gittite, either from his residence at Gath, or more probably from Gath-rimmon, one of the Levitical cities (
Josh 21:24-
Josh 21:25).
12 DAVID AFTERWARDS BRINGS THE ARK TO ZION. (
2Sam 6:12-19)
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 (
1Chr 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
1Chr 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
1Chr 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 (
1Chr 16:39;
1Chr 21:29;
2Chr 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
1Kgs 8:55-56). [See on
1Chr 16:2.]
19 cake of bread--unleavened and slender.
a good piece of flesh--roast beef.
20 MICHAL'S BARRENNESS. (
2Sam 6:20-23)
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.
