2 Samuel 6:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn.

NIV: while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

NASB: So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with joyful shouting and the sound of the trumpet.

CSB: He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn.

NLT: So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.

KJV: So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

NKJV: So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

God has lifted David higher than any shepherd boy could dream. God anointed David as king of the nation when he was still a youth (1 Samuel 16:12–13). He gave David favor over the house of the first king, Saul (1 Samuel 28:17). He made David king first of Judah and then of all Israel without David having to fight for the crown (2 Samuel 2:4; 5:1–3).

God then let David establish his capital in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6–12). But David wants God closer. He wants the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem. After an error that cost a man his life, David is finally getting his wish. So, he is compelled to celebrate (2 Samuel 6:1–14).

Some leaders can be self-conscious and protective of their reputation and respectability. They do whatever they can to avoid looking foolish so as not to lose the respect of their people. They believe that kings should behave in a kingly manner.

More than anything else, David loves God. He demonstrates genuine humility by showing no concern for his own public image in this moment. He sees himself as the leader of a people who are giving honor and praise to the God upon whom they are completely dependent for protection and provision. He is convinced that the Lord is worthy of all honor and of the loudest, most energetic praise they can give to Him. So, David and the people enter the city with shouting, leaping, dancing (2 Samuel 6:16), and the blaring of horns.

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.

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.

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.