2 Samuel 6: The Ark Comes to Zion
David brings the ark toward Jerusalem; Uzzah dies for steadying it, and after a holy pause David dances with all his might as the ark enters the city.
2 Samuel 6 (WEB)
1 David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 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, even the name of Yahweh of Armies who sits above the cherubim.
3 They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4 They brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5 David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled.
7 Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Uzzah; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day.
9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, “How shall Yahweh’s ark come to me?”
10 So David would not move Yahweh’s ark to be with him in the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
11 Yahweh’s ark remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom, and all his house.
12 It was told king David, saying, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertains to him, because of the ark of God.” David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with joy.
13 It was so, that, when those who bore Yahweh’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
14 David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up Yahweh’s ark with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 It was so, as Yahweh’s ark came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought in Yahweh’s ark, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
18 When David had made an end of offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies.
19 He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed everyone to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21 David said to Michal, “It was before Yahweh, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Therefore will I celebrate before Yahweh.
22 I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight. But of the handmaids of whom you have spoken, they shall honor me.”
23 Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
2 Samuel 6 (KJV)
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’s 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 Perez–uzzah 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 Obed–edom the Gittite.
11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed–edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed 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. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed–edom 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’s 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.
2 Samuel 6 (ASV)
1 And David again 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-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that sitteth above the cherubim.
3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5 And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.
7 And the anger of Jehovah 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 Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place Perez-uzzah, unto this day.
9 And David was afraid of Jehovah that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Jehovah come unto me?
10 So David would not remove the ark of Jehovah unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
11 And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.
12 And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy.
13 And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
14 And David danced before Jehovah 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 Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah.
18 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts.
19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion of flesh, and a cake of raisins. 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 Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: therefore will I play before Jehovah.
22 And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in mine own sight: but of the handmaids of whom thou hast spoken, of them shall I be had in honor.
23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
Summary
David gathers thirty thousand chosen men to bring the ark of God, where Yahweh's name dwells above the cherubim, up to Jerusalem. They set it on a new cart, and David and all Israel celebrate before the Lord with every kind of instrument. But at the threshing floor of Nacon the oxen stumble, Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, and Yahweh's anger burns against him for his error, striking him dead beside the ark. David is displeased and then afraid, asking how the ark could ever come to him, so he leaves it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, where the Lord blesses that household for three months. Learning of the blessing, David goes to bring up the ark with joy, sacrificing as the bearers advance. David dances before Yahweh with all his might, clothed only in a linen ephod, while Israel shouts and the trumpet sounds. His wife Michal, watching from a window, despises him in her heart for what she sees as undignified behavior. When she confronts him, David answers that he celebrated before the Lord who chose him over her father's house, and that he will be even more undignified, for the honor of God matters more than the opinions of others. The chapter holds together the holiness of God, who must be approached on his terms, and the joyful worship of a king unashamed before his Lord.
Main Characters
- David — The king who longs to bring the ark to Jerusalem, learns the cost of approaching God carelessly, and dances with abandon in joyful worship.
- Uzzah — The man who reaches out to steady the ark and is struck dead, a sobering reminder of God's holiness.
- Obed-Edom the Gittite — The man in whose house the ark rests for three months, and whose household the Lord blesses.
- Michal — Saul's daughter and David's wife, who despises David's exuberant worship and is left without child.
Key Verse
2 Samuel 6:14 (WEB)
David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
Lessons Learned
- God is holy and must be approached on his terms, not according to our convenience.
- Reverence and joy belong together in true worship; neither cancels the other.
- The presence of God brings blessing to those who honor him, as it did to Obed-Edom.
- Wholehearted worship may look undignified to onlookers, but God treasures a heart unashamed before him.
- Approach God on his terms. “Yahweh’s anger was kindled against Uzzah… and God struck him there for his error” (2 Samuel 6:7, WEB); reverence is not optional.
- God's presence brings blessing. “Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom, and all his house” (2 Samuel 6:11, WEB) while the ark rested with him.
- Worship with all your might. “David danced before Yahweh with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14, WEB), holding nothing back in joyful praise.
- Care for God's honor over human opinion. David tells Michal, “It was before Yahweh… Therefore will I celebrate before Yahweh” (2 Samuel 6:21, WEB), unashamed of exuberant worship.
- Why does God strike Uzzah down, and how does this reveal the holiness of God?
- How does the blessing on Obed-Edom's house change David's approach to the ark?
- What does David's dancing reveal about his heart toward God?
- Why does Michal despise David, and how does David answer her?
- How do you hold reverence for God's holiness together with joyful, wholehearted worship in your own life?
- Uzzah touches the ark, which God had forbidden, and dies for his error (6:6-7). However well-intentioned, the act treated the holy as common. The episode teaches that God's holiness is real and must be honored as he commands.
- Seeing the Lord bless Obed-Edom's house (6:11-12), David is encouraged that God's presence brings good to those who honor him, and he resumes bringing up the ark, this time with sacrifice and reverence.
- David dances “with all his might” in a simple linen ephod (6:14), setting aside royal dignity in unrestrained joy. His worship flows from love for the God who chose and exalted him.
- Michal despises David's public exuberance as beneath a king (6:16, 20). David replies that he celebrated before the Lord who chose him, and would be even more undignified for God's honor (6:21-22).
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to reflect on how awe and joy meet in their worship, and to consider where fear of others' opinions holds them back from honoring God freely.