2 Samuel 6:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.

NASB: And David departed from Baale-judah, with all the people who were with him, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the Lord of armies who is enthroned above the cherubim.

CSB: He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim.

NLT: He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: 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, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.

David gathers Israelites from throughout the nation (1 Chronicles 13:5) along with thirty divisions of warriors (2 Samuel 6:1). They will travel from Jerusalem to Baale-judah and bring the ark of God (Exodus 25:10–22) back to Jerusalem. This object is a golden box topped with two cherubim which holds the tablets of the ten commandments, God's covenant with Israel.

Because the ark symbolizes God's presence, it's the most holy object in Israel's worship, and David wants it near him.

God had instructed the Israelites to keep the ark in the Holy of Holies, the innermost room of the tabernacle (Exodus 26). Fearful of the Philistines, the sons of Eli the high priest took it into battle, and the Philistines captured it (1 Samuel 4:1–10). Wherever the Philistines kept the ark, God brought disaster (1 Samuel 5). To escape His judgment, they sent the ark back to Israelite territory (1 Samuel 6). It arrived Beth-shemesh, but some of the people disrespected it, and God killed them (1 Samuel 6:18–20). From there, the ark went to Kiriath-jearim, where a hastily consecrated priest cared for it to prevent further judgment. It stayed in Kiriath-jearim for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:1–2).

During King Saul's reign, the ark traveled with the "people," possibly the army (1 Samuel 14:18). Since the day Eli's sons took it into battle, the ark has not returned to the tabernacle where the sacrifices take place. Sometime between Eli's death and David's flight from Saul, the tabernacle moved from Shiloh to Nob (1 Samuel 21:1–6), but Saul killed all the priests there (1 Samuel 22:6–19). By David's time, the tabernacle likely stands in Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39–40). The ark will remain separate from the altar until Solomon builds the temple.

Baale-judah is also called Baalah or Kiriath-jearim in other passages (Joshua 15:9). "Baale-judah" likely means "the Lord of Judah," or the place in Judah where God dwells. "Lord of hosts" is God's title as the commander of angel armies.

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, 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).