The Second Book of Samuel, otherwise called the Second Book of the Kings
2 Samuel 6
Chapter VI · Vol. II, pp. 682–685
1 David fetcheth the ark from Kirjath-jearim on a new cart. 6 Uzzah is smitten at Perez-uzzah. 9 God blesseth Obed-edom for the ark. 12 David bringing the ark into Zion with sacrifices, danceth before it, for which Michal despiseth him. 17 He placeth it in a tabernacle with sacrifices and feasting. 20 Michal reproving David for his religious joy is childless to her death.
1 Again David agathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
B.C. cir. 1045.
a ch.5.1. 1 Ch.13.1-14.
2 And bDavid arose, and went with all the people that were with him from cBaale1 of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, dwhose name is called by the name of The LORD of hosts, that edwelleth between the cherubims.
b 1 Ch.13.6. 1 Ki.8.1-4. Ps.132.1-6.
c Jos.15.9. 1 Sa.7.1. Ps.132.6.
1 The same as Kirjath-jearim. Compare Jos.15.9,60. 1 Sa.7.10.—C.
d Or, at which the name, even the name of the LORD of hosts was called upon, Le.24.11.
3 And they fset the ark of God upon a new cart,2 and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
f With Nu.4.14; 7.9. De.12.8. Mat.28.20, with 1 Sa.6.7. 1 Ch.13.7.
2 The manner of this procedure is contrary to the divine law, which required the ark to be carried on the shoulders of the Levites, by means of staves, and who were not, upon pain of death, even to touch any of the holy things, Nu.4.15. The Philistines had indeed conveyed the ark home upon a cart, but that should have formed no precedent for David. It forms a melancholy example either of ignorance, inattention, or neglect, even in a reformation commenced and carried on with zeal for the glory of God. And if David so erred, let us take heed lest we fall.—C.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was at gGibeah, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark.
g The hill of Kirjath-jearim, 1 Sa.7.1,2.
5 And hDavid, and all the house of Israel, played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir-wood; even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 And iwhen they came to kNachon's thrashing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook3 it.
7 Andl the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error;4 and there he died by the ark of God.5
l 1 Ch.15.2,13. Nu.4.15. with ver.3. Le.10.1. 1 Sa.6.19. 1 Co.11.30. Ps.50.16.
4 Or, rashness.
5 See note on ver.3. But why is not David punished, who presided in the removal, rather than Uzzah, who is a mere humble assistant? Uzzah, as a Levite, should have known and observed the law against touching the ark, with which it is not certain that David was at all acquainted.—C.
8 And David was mdispleased,6 because the LORD had made a breach7 upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah8 to this day.
m Jonah 4.1,9. Je.20.10-18. Job 3.1-26; 9.2,3; 4.17.
6 Not displeased with God, but with his own and the Levites' neglect and breach of the divine law in relation to the manner of removing the ark.—C.
7 Heb. broken.
8 That is, The breach of Uzzah.
9 And David was nafraid of the LORD that day, and said, oHow shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
n Ps.119.120. 1 Sa.6.2,20; 5.10. Lu.5.8,9. Pr.12.3.
10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house pof Obed-edom the Gittite.9
11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD qblessed Obed-edom, and all his household.
12 And 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. rSo David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom, into the city of David with gladness.
r 1 Ch.15.1-25. Ps.132.1-18; 24.7-10; 68.1-35; xcv.-c.cv. 1 Ch.xv.xvi.
13 And it was so, sthat, when they that bare the ark1 of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.2
s ver.3, with 1 Ch.15.2,15-26. Nu.7.9.
1 The mode of conveying the ark is now according to the law. Blessed are they who, having fallen into one error (see note on ver. 3), acknowledge their fault, and, through grace, avoid it in future.—C.
2 The meaning appears to be, that when the procession had started and gone six paces, the sacrifice was offered, namely, for the purpose of inaugurating the solemn procession.—P.
14 And tDavid danced3 before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with ua linen ephod.
t Ex.15.20. Ju.11.34; 21.19,21.
3 That might not be a usual practice, but we are to bear in mind that this was no ordinary occasion. David exulted with holy joy at the prospect of the sacred symbol of Jehovah's presence being again enshrined in the midst of his people, and of the whole tabernacle service being again restored, after having been so long suspended.—I.
u 1 Ch.15.27. 1 Sa.2.18; 22.18.
15 Sox David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
x 1 Ch.15.16-25,28. ver.12. Ps.68.25-27; 47.5,6; 132.7-18.
16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, yMichal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
y 1 Sa.18.20,27. ch.3.14. 1 Ch.15.29. Ac.2.13. 1 Co.2.14.
17 And zthey brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had 4pitched 5for it: and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD.
A.M. cir. 2959. B.C. cir. 1045.
z 1 Ch.15.1; 16.1. 2 Ch.1.4. Da.7.10,13,14. He.1.3; 8.1.
4 Heb. stretched.
5 A temporary tabernacle prepared by David; for the former still remained at Gibeon. See 1 Ch.16.39; 21.29. 2 Ch.1.3.—C.
18 And aas soon as David had made an end of offering burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, he blessed6 the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19 And he bdealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a 7flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20 Then David returned to cbless his household. And dMichal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David, and said, eHow glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered8 himself to-day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21 And David said unto Michal, It was fbefore the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
f ver.14. 1 Co.10.31. 1 Sa.13.14; 15.28; 16.13. Ps.78.70-72.
22 And I gwill yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight;9 and of the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
g Ac.13.45,46; 5.41; 21.13. Phi.3.7-14. 1 Sa.2.30. Ge.32.10. Job 40.4. 1 Ti.1.15. 1 Pe.5.6.
9 The essence of piety is—to be base in our own sight, unworthy of all the mercies by which we are pardoned, of the blessings by which we are sustained, and the inheritance with which in Christ we are endowed.—C.
Notes
Reflections.—Perpetual visibility and splendour are no marks of a true church. The ark, the most noted symbol of God's presence, continued long in obscurity. God can be graciously present with his people even when they want his solemn ordinances; and it is his presence that renders his ordinances truly glorious. Such as have high thoughts of him will reverence all his institutions. The greatest need think it no disparagement to join with the meanest before the great God, their common Maker and Saviour. Singing of psalms to his praise is always esteemed when God revives a spirit of religion. God's laws relative to the manner as well as to the matter of his worship ought to be exactly observed: and the authority of men, or bad precedents, should never weigh more with us than the express word of God. By rashness and intemperate zeal we are apt to give wrong touches to God's ark; and no good intention will atone for our irreverence or presumption. Men are never in greater danger of ruinous mistakes than in dealing with God. How apt are the best to be displeased with God's judgments rather than with their own sins which procured them! The awful strokes of Providence should move us to repentance and heedfulness, but never terrify us from our duty. None ever lost by their fidelity and kindness to God and his ordinances. It is a happiness to be in the family or place where God is duly respected. Duty may happily succeed at last, though our first attempts have been marred. Let us therefore search out and repent of our errors, apply Jesus' propitiatory sacrifice for remission of sins, feast on him as our provision, and set about it anew with proper circumspection. Only base minds reckon God's service mean or indecent; and ridicule, not reason, is the common weapon of the enemies of truth. But we must not be laughed out of our religious profession; but the more opposition we meet with the more resolutely persevere. If God knows our heart to be upright before him, the censures of others may lie light upon us. We can never sufficiently humble ourselves before him. And if in our service of him we have the regard of good men, we need not fear the contempt of the irreligious or the great. While God shall mark the despisers of his service with infamy and wrath, we shall be had in glory and honour.
But let me here think of that solemn joy and triumph wherewith Jesus, our great Ark of God's testament, was carried up into heaven, and set down at the right hand of God: and of that joy and triumph with which his name is carried through the world by the gospel, in the times of his love and days of his power! O then what harmony and peace in churches—what familiar feasting on his flesh and blood! And how dreadful their case who disdain to concur in that solemn work!