Chapter Six
David Attempts to Move the Ark to Jerusalem
[Verses 1-11 parallel 1 Chronicles 13:1-14]
6:1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
The Ark of the Covenant had been in the house of Abinidab in Kiriath-jearim for more than sixty years (see 1 Samuel 7:1) and according to David, the Ark had been neglected during the time of Saul, so he thought it was time to bring the Ark to Jerusalem (see 1 Chronicles 13:3). Some believe that now that David had ‘cleared out’ the Philistines to Gezer (see 2 Samuel 5:25) that allowed him access to Kiriath-jearim (half-way between Gezer and Jerusalem) to retrieve the Ark.
The author here notes that there were thirty thousand men selected to undertake this task. David may have chosen so many men for security reasons, perhaps to prevent an outside group to capture the Ark as the Philistines did. The parallel account in 1 Chronicles 13:2 adds specifically that there were priests and Levities that were gathered there, as well as representatives from each tribe.
David possibly thought it was time to begin reuniting the people spiritually, but there is no mention of this plan being requested or ordained by God.
6:2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim.
David and all the people gathered at Baale-judah (also known as Baalah, Kirjath-baal, and Kirjath-jearim) the location of Abinidab’s house where the Ark of God, which is called by name, the name[1] YHWH Ṣᵉḇā·ʾôṯ’, who sits enthroned on the cherubim (see Exodus 25:22; 1 Samuel 4:4; Psalm 80:1) was located.
6:3 And they carried 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 driving the new cart, 4 with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark.
A new cart was provided to transport it, neither the ‘how’, nor the ‘who’, loaded the Ark on the cart are recorded. The sons of Abinadab, Uzzah, and Ahio, took charge of moving the Ark, it is believed that Abinidab was either dead or too old to handle the move. His sons were guiding the cart as the oxen were pulling it on this approximately eight-mile trip.
6:5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
David and all the people of Israel were celebrating this historical event. They were singing, and music played on lyres (Hebrew ḵin·nō·rôṯ’, can refer to a lyre or harp, a string instrument with acoustical chest), harps (Hebrew nᵉḇā·lîm’, a storage jar, can also refer to a harp with ten to twelve strings, larger than the ḵin·nō·rôṯ’ giving it a deeper sound, often rounded possibly giving it the name relating it to a jar), tambourines (Hebrew ṯǔp·pîm’, a small shallow drum hit with hand), castanets (Hebrew mᵉnǎ·ʿǎn·ʿîm’, a small percussion instrument that rattles), and cymbals (Hebrew ṣěl·ṣě·lîm’, two circular concave brass plates that are struck together)! It must have been a joyful time for everyone, 1 Chronicles 13:8 adds that they were singing and playing their instruments with all their might (it also adds that they blew long metal trumpets too).
But when they arrived to the threshing floor of Nacon (unknown location) the oxen stumbled and apparently the Ark started to fall. Undoubtedly instinctively, Uzzah put his hand out to steady the Ark. The Targum notes that they were approaching the place prepared to receive the Ark (which would then possibly place this incident somewhere near Jerusalem).[2]
6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.
The text states that YHWH was angry with Uzzah and so he was struck down dead next to the Ark, and the celebration ended.
6:8 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.
David was then angry with YHWH because He “had broken out” (Hebrew pā·rǎṣ’ pě’·rěṣ, burst forth and breached) against Uzzah, so David named the location Perez-uzzah.
6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”
David was terrified of God on that day, and asked, how can the Ark come to him. The author does not mention the people’s reaction, likely they were like David, shocked and dismayed. If David did not know what went wrong, then the people were probably also confused and equally despondent.
6:10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
David did not know what went wrong so he was unwilling to move the Ark into the city of David, instead he rerouted it to the house of Obed-edom a Gittite. Being a Gittite means he was from the city of Gath, but Gath was a name of several locations as it means “wine press.” The most well-known city named Gath was the one associated with the Philistines. But Obed-edom was not a Philistine as we will learn later he was a Levite (see 1 Chronicles 15:18, 21, 24; 16:5; 26:4) which means he was probably from Gath-rimmon a Levitical city in the land allocated to the tribe of Dan (see Joshua 21:24-25; 1 Chronicles 6:69).
We are told that the Ark remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months and YHWH blessed him and all his household.
Considerations
That wasn’t fair! Why did this incident happen?
Many readers have a difficult time with this event, often thinking that God was not fair when He killed Uzzah. But before we start accusing God of some form of impropriety, we should take a closer look of the situation that led to this action.
Let’s first look at the fact that God’s instructions for handling the Ark were not followed. We read in Numbers 4:15 that if anyone were to touch any of the furnishings or holy things of the Tabernacle, which included the Ark, they would die. He also commanded that the Ark was only to be transported by the Levities by hand (see Exodus 25:13-14; 37:4-5; Numbers 7:9), not by cart.
Now let’s look at the scenario and examine the chain of events. We begin with David wanting to bring the Ark to the city of David but we do not read of any inquiry to God, nor a request for a blessing from Him. Then David arranged for the Ark to be transported on a new cart, which is reminiscent of how the Philistines thought when they returned the Ark (see 1 Samuel 6:7-8). After Uzzah was struck by God, David asked, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” a question that could be considered a prideful request.
So what went wrong? The foremost problem was the lack of knowledge of God’s Word. Especially in light of all the people, which included priests and Levities (see 1 Chronicles 13:1-4), no one seemed to be aware of God’s commands regarding the proper handling of the Ark (the reason why the Philistines were able to touch the Ark is because they did not have a covenant relationship with God that forbad touching it). God doesn’t change and neither does His Word. If an Israelite touched the Ark, under any circumstance, including by accident or by ignorance, they would be killed. David still had a lot to learn about God and His Word.
What was David’s motives to move the Ark? Some believe he was politically motivated, thinking that by bringing the Ark to his newly restored capital city that it would bring legitimacy to him and his dynasty. That his desire to bring the Ark to him, was just that, to bring attention to him.
Why is this story here?
We can say that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (see Psalm 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 1:12; 13:8; James 1:17), and that fact also applies to His Word, just as Jesus stated, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35, ESV). But beyond the fact that what Uzzah did violated God’s command and died as a result, the nation of Israel had pulled away from God.
The Ark Moved to Jerusalem
[Verses 12-15 parallel 1 Chronicles 15:1-28]
6:12 And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household 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 rejoicing.
Apparently David had not inquired from God during the three months, that when he heard that YHWH had blessed Obed-edom and his household because of the presence of the Ark, he knew that God wasn’t angry at him or Israel, and that he could now proceed with the moving of the Ark.
During this time David also learned a few things, perhaps doing what God expected all kings of the Israelites to do, “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20, ESV)
In 1 Chronicles 15:1-2, we read that at this time David changed the mode of transportation. “And he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. Then David said that no one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, for the LORD had chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister to him forever.” (ESV) David told the Levites to, “Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.” So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.” (1 Chronicles 15:12-15, ESV)
6:13 And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal.
This unusual protocol has been interpreted in a number of ways, the two most prominent theories are: 1) a sacrifice was made every six steps, although thought that could have been described better if that were true, besides it seems to be a little too similar to an Assyrian ritual, which is not likely; And 2) that they were instructed to proceed six steps only so as to make sure it was now safe to move the Ark. Since no one was killed, the procession to the city of David began. We are told in 1 Chronicles 15:28 that the singing and all the instruments, as before, began again, as well as the shouting, all in celebration.
6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.
David danced before YHWH with all his might, we are told that he was wearing a linen ephod like what is typically worn by the high priest.[3] We are later told that he was also wearing a robe of fine linen (see 1 Chronicles 15:27). David and all the house of Israel celebrated with shouting and horns blaring, as the Ark of YHWH was carried to the city of David.
Michal Despises David as the Ark Arrives
[Verses 16-18 parallel 1 Chronicles 15:29-16:3]
6:16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal 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.
Michal, one of David’s wives was looking out a window as the Ark approached the city and saw her husband dancing and leaping before YHWH, and she despised (Hebrew ti’·ḇěz, to hold in contempt, disdained) him in her heart. The fact that she was not participating in the celebration may offer us some insight to her priorities.
The pride of her aristocratic rank was grievously offended by her husband’s public exhibition of himself in a character so undignified, and resembling, as she thought, rather the conduct of a mountebank or buffoon than the sovereign of Israel. But Michal’s thought was different from the ludicrous ideas which our imaginations are apt to associate with a man of grave character and dignified rank indulging in wild gestures and grotesque attitudes. The dance consisted in serious and solemn measures, and was associated in the minds of Eastern people with sentiments of religious worship. But Michal, who had no proper sense of religion, considered that David was exalting the priesthood above the throne, or, in other words, giving undue honour—an excess of éclat—to the officials of the sanctuary.[4]
6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
The Ark was put in the tent that David had set up for it, and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH. Some believe that David took on the role of a priest (being a royal priest like Melchizedek, see Genesis 14:18-19) while others believe that he provided all the materials and had the priests offer the sacrifices. It is likely he arranged for the priests to officiate as he probably didn’t want to violate another commandment of the Torah (see 1 Chronicles 16:4). The offering of the peace offering allowed the cooked meat to be shared (see Leviticus 3:1-17; 7:11-36).
6:18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts 19a and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one.
In a similar manner of when Melchizedek blessed Abram, David offers a blessing to the people in the name of YHWH and then distributed food to each of them. Here we read that everyone, both men and women, received a cake of bread (Hebrew ḥǎl·lǎṯ lě’·ḥěm, a cake typically in the shape of a ring that was often used in offerings, can be either leavened or unleavened bread made from grain), a portion of meat (Hebrew ʾěš·pār’, a piece of something, but the word doesn’t define what, the Septuagint refers to it as something baked, but the Targum, Geneva Bible, and the Latin Vulgate all state ‘meat’ or ‘flesh’, with no further information given, possibly from the sacrifice), and a cake of raisins.
Not recorded here in 2 Samuel, we read in 1 Chronicles 16:4 that David at this time wanted to praise and thank God, “Then he appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, to invoke, to thank, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel.” (ESV) So he assigned Asaph and others to sing a song prepared by him (see 1 Chronicles 16:5-7). The song of thanksgiving is recorded in 1 Chronicles 16:8–36, the first fifteen verses are nearly identical to Psalm 105:1-15, and verses 23-33 are similar to Psalm 96:1-13. In 1 Chronicles 16:37-42 we read how David arranged for Asaph and his brothers to offer daily sacrifices there near the Ark, and Zadok the priest, to officiate the daily sacrifices in the Tabernacle, which was in Gibeon at that time.
[Verses 19b-20a parallels 1 Chronicles 16:43]
6:19b Then all the people departed, each to his house. 20a And David returned to bless his household.
When the song concluded everyone went back to their homes and David went home to bless his household.
[Verses 20b-23 have no parallel verses]
6:20b But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
Michal approached David and accused him of disgraceful and inappropriate behavior. She sarcastically commented, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” (2 Samuel 6:20b, NLT) She strongly condemned his actions. She did not understand that the worship was not to impress the people, but God.
She preferred the ‘brave warrior’ image to that of the humble, worshipping king, stripped of all his royal regalia, and, as she saw it, uncovering himself, or maybe ‘showing off’.[5]
6:21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.”
David explains that he was worshiping YHWH, the God who chose him above her father and above his house, the One that appointed him to be the leader of Israel, the people of YHWH, so yes, he will celebrate and worship YHWH. And tells her that he will likely act more shamelessly, and even more humiliating in the future. But as for those servant girls she mentioned, they will hold him in honor. In other words he did not lack in public support.
6:23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
The meaning of this verse is often debated, but it does seem to imply that their marital relationship from this point on suffered, or simply came to an end. Some believe that she was punished for her contempt of David (by God or by David), others point out that as a daughter of Saul, any potential successor to the throne could not succeed, since God had terminated the royal line of Saul (see 1 Samuel 13:14, as she was technically David’s first wife, her offspring could have potentially been qualified as first in line to be David’s successor).
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[1] The Hebrew word šēm’, meaning name, appears twice in the text.
[2] Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. (2005). Targum Jonathan to the Prophets (2 Sa 6:5–6). Hebrew Union College.
[3] The instructions found in the Torah (the law of God) discuss the creation and wearing of an ephod by Aaron, the high priest. The first mention of an ephod outside the Torah is when Gideon made one for his own priest (see Judges 8:27), then a man named Micah made one for his son and made him priest of his household gods (see Judges 17:5; 18:14-20). Even Samuel when he was young, wore an ephod. The original ephod design was apparently copied and used in several unofficial (not God ordained) applications making it difficult to determine the reason why the apparel was worn. It was not simply a linen cloth wrapped around the waist as some have depicted it.
[4] Jamieson, R. (n.d.). A Commentary, Critical, Experimental, and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments: Joshua–Esther: Vol. II (p. 231). William Collins, Sons, & Company, Limited.
[5] Baldwin, J. G. (1988). 1 and 2 Samuel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 8, p. 225). InterVarsity Press.