2 Samuel 6 - Printer Friendly

What does 2 Samuel 6 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

The chronology of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles seem straightforward based on casual reading. In the order presented, David becomes king over Israel, he takes Jerusalem, Hiram builds David a house, David brings the ark to Jerusalem, God makes His covenant with David, David fights against Ammonites, he sins against Bathsheba, Solomon is born, Amnon rapes Tamar, and Absalom rebels against David. However, the timing of these events doesn't line up.

Rather, these passages seem to group David's story into successes and failures. The strongest indication that the events are given thematically and not chronologically is that Hiram didn't begin reigning over Tyre until 980 BC, only nine years before David's death. The more literal sequence of events would be kingship, Jerusalem, Bathsheba, Solomon, Amnon and Tamar, Hiram, the ark, God's covenant, and then Absalom's rebellion. The only meaningful impact that has on this chapter is that David's palace was built closer to the end of his reign.

With David's throne established in Jerusalem and the Philistines driven from Israel's territory, David decides to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (Exodus 25:10–22). When Samuel was a boy, the Philistines captured the ark during a battle (1 Samuel 4). God punished them, and they returned it (1 Samuel 6). The Israelites placed it in the home of Abinadab in Baale-judah, where it remained for twenty years. Afterward, it traveled with the "people," possibly referring to Saul's army (1 Samuel 14:18), before returning to Kiriath-jearim.

David plans a celebratory procession from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem. He gathers a massive crowd (1 Chronicles 13:5) to accompany the Levites. They load up the ark on a new ox cart. Ahio leads the cart, and Uzzah walks beside it. When they reach Nacon's threshing floor, the oxen stumble, Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, and God strikes him dead (2 Samuel 6:1–7).

David reacts with anger toward God's judgment and with fear of bringing the ark into his city. He leaves it in the home of Obed-edom. When David learns that the Lord is blessing Obed-edom's household, David changes his mind and resolves to bring the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:8–12).

This time, David correctly follows God's commands for transporting the ark (Exodus 25:12–15). He goes further by offering a sacrifice every six steps along the way to Jerusalem. The people sing, shout, and play music, and David enthusiastically dances while wearing a priestly garment (2 Samuel 6:13–15).

When David and the procession reach the city, the Levites carry the ark into a special tent. David orders more sacrifices, both burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He blesses the people in the Lord's name and gives every man and woman a portion of food (2 Samuel 6:17–19).

Not everyone rejoices. Michal, David's first wife and the daughter of Saul, confronts him. She accuses him of disgracing his position. Her direct attack is on David's clothes: the relatively short and light ephod. She says this was inappropriate in front of servant girls. She mocks him as a vulgar man. However, her approach and David's reply suggest that her actual complaint was that David acted like a common Israelite rather than a distinguished king. David replies that he celebrates the same God who chose him as the king over Michal's own father and brothers. Her disapproval won't change how he worships. Scripture doesn't explain exactly why, but Michal never has children. This might be a judgment on her words. It may also be that a son from both David and Saul's line would have posed a political threat (2 Samuel 6:16, 20–23).

Later, David will notice that the tent he prepared for the ark looks shabby compared to the beautiful cedar palace King Hiram of Tyre built for him (2 Samuel 5:11–12). He asks Nathan the prophet if he should build a temple. Nathan asks God, and God says, no. But God will build David a "house": a lasting dynasty fulfilled when David's descendant Jesus takes the throne forever (2 Samuel 7).

The story of the ark's move to Jerusalem is recorded in greater detail in 1 Chronicles chapters 13 and 15. Michal's disapproval is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 15:29. In Psalm 68, David talks about the ark in Jerusalem.

Second Samuel 6:1–4 describes the initial leg of the ark of the covenant's move to Jerusalem. David first received approval and guidance from God and the people (1 Chronicles 13:1–4). But they apparently didn't check the Mosaic law. A cart pulled by oxen carries the ark, not the Levites. When the oxen stumble, Uzzah puts his hand toward the ark, and God strikes him dead. It will be another three months before they continue the trip (2 Samuel 6:5–15). First Chronicles 13:5–8 also records Uzzah's death.

In 2 Samuel 6:5–11, God judges and blesses. David has called a procession to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. When the ox cart that carries it wobbles, Uzzah reaches out to steady it, and God strikes him dead for profaning the sacred object. Angry and fearful, David leaves the ark at the home of Obed-edom. When David hears God has been blessing Obed-edom, David recalls the procession, the Levites hand-carry the ark as they should, and the religious and political capitals of Israel are closer to aligning (2 Samuel 6:12–15). This information is also found in 1 Chronicles 13:5–14.

Second Samuel 6:12–15 records the day when the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10–22) finally reaches Jerusalem. For decades, it's either been in Baale-judah or carried with the army. At first, David had the ark transported contrary to the instructions in the Mosaic law, and a man died (2 Samuel 6:5–11). Now, the ark is properly hand-carried. The people celebrate with singers, musicians, and dancers. As David joins the celebration, his wife Michal watches with disgust at what she thinks is undignified behavior (2 Samuel 6:16). 1 Chronicles 15:1–28 gives greater detail to the procession.

Second 2 Samuel 6:16–19 continues a celebration over the ark of the covenant. In the time of the priest Eli, Philistines took the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4:11). They returned it, and it sat in Baale-judah / Kiriath-jearim for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:1–2). Then it apparently traveled with the army (1 Samuel 14:18). David wants God's presence closer, so he brought the ark to Jerusalem. The entire journey is filled with sacrifices and celebration, and now David adds feasting. Michal, however, isn't impressed by David's "vulgar" behavior. First Chronicles 15:29—16:1–3 records the same information, while 16:4–42 gives more detail, including David's psalm.

Second Samuel 6:20–23 records a spat between David and his first wife, Michal. Michal was King Saul's daughter. She fell in love with David and risked her life to protect him (1 Samuel 18:20–29; 19:11–17). When David left, Saul gave her to another; when David became king, he took her back (1 Samuel 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:12–16). She sees David's exuberant celebration of the ark's arrival in Jerusalem as shameless and unbecoming. David defends his joy and rejects her judgment. Michal never bears a child; there will be no son descended from both David and Saul to vie for the throne.

Chapter Summary:

In 2 Samuel 6, David decides to bring the ark of God (Exodus 25:10–22) to Jerusalem. This includes an enormous crowd and a great procession. Unfortunately, he doesn't follow the Mosaic law, and a man dies for inappropriately touching the ark. David leaves the ark at a house for three months before trying again. Moving the symbol of God's presence into the nation's capital delights everyone except David's first wife, Michal. She is disgusted by David's undignified enthusiasm. The same events are noted in 1 Chronicles 13 and 15.

Chapter Context:

David has established himself as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5). In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of the covenant reaches Jerusalem. Since its first home in Shiloh, it's been captured by Philistines, sent back home, housed in Kiriath-jearim, carried with the army, and returned to Kiriath-jearim (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4, 6; 7:1–2; 14:18). David first puts the ark on a cart, but the cart wobbles and God strikes dead the man who tries to save it. Eventually, Levites carry the ark to Jerusalem properly. Soon, David decides that God deserves a proper temple and asks if he can build one (2 Samuel 7).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.

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