2 Samuel 6 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. (1Ch 13:6) 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. (Ex 25:22; Jos 15:9; Jos 15:60; 1Sa 4:4; 2Ch 1:4; Ps 80:1)

Ex 25:22Jos 15:9Jos 15:601Sa 4:42Ch 1:4Ps 80:1

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,^[1] the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, (1Sa 6:7; 1Sa 7:1) 4 with the ark of God,^[2] and Ahio went before the ark.

Uzzah and the Ark

5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, with songs^[3] and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. (1Ch 13:8; Ps 150:3) 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. (Nu 4:15; 1Ch 13:9; 1Ch 15:2) 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. (1Sa 6:19) 8 And David was angry because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah^[4] to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 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. (1Ch 15:25) 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. (1Ch 26:5) 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. (1Ki 8:1; 1Ch 15:25) 13 And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. (Nu 4:15; Nu 7:9; Jos 3:3; 1Ki 8:5; 1Ch 15:2; 1Ch 15:15)

Nu 4:15Nu 7:9Jos 3:31Ki 8:51Ch 15:21Ch 15:15

14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. (Ex 15:20; 1Sa 2:18; Ps 30:11; Ps 150:4)

Ex 15:201Sa 2:18Ps 30:11Ps 150:4

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 and Michal

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. 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. (1Ki 8:5; 1Ki 8:62; 1Ch 15:1; 2Ch 1:4; Ps 132:8)

1Ki 8:51Ki 8:621Ch 15:12Ch 1:4Ps 132:8

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 (1Ki 8:14; 1Ki 8:55) 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat,^[5] and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. (1Ch 16:43) 20 And David returned to bless his household. 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!” (Jud 9:4; 1Sa 19:24; 2Sa 6:14; 2Sa 6:16)

Jud 9:41Sa 19:242Sa 6:142Sa 6:16

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^[6] over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. (1Sa 13:14; 1Sa 15:28) 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your^[7] eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

King James Version

1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. 3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, 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. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David 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 when they came to Nachon' threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it . 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 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 of Obededom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. 12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so , that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with 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 trumpet. 16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul' daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 And 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: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 And he dealt 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 flagon of wine . So all the people departed every one to his house. 20 Then 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 to day, who uncovered 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 before 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. 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.