2 Samuel 6:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor."

NIV: I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor."

NASB: And I might demean myself even more than this and be lowly in my own sight, but with the female slaves of whom you have spoken, with them I am to be held in honor!'

CSB: and I will dishonor myself and humble myself even more. However, by the slave girls you spoke about, I will be honored."

NLT: Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.”

About one hundred years before these events, the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10) had sat in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle of Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:3). Since then, it's moved often (1 Samuel 4, 11; 6:1–21; 7:1–2; 14:18). David has become king of all Israel, captured the city of Jerusalem, and set up his capital (2 Samuel 5:1–10). Now, he's brought the ark to his city (2 Samuel 6:1–15). The tabernacle and the altar are in Gibeon (1 Chronicles 16:39–40), but the symbol of God's presence is with David.

David is so joyful and grateful to God that he joined in with the dancers. He danced with enthusiasm, wearing a short, loose robe (1 Samuel 6:14). He didn't care who saw him or what they thought. His wife, Michal, was very concerned with appearances. She's horrified and embarrassed at the un-king-like behavior of her husband and has no problem telling him so (2 Samuel 6:16, 20).

His initial response to her harsh criticism is restrained. David emphasizes that God chose him to be king over Michals' own father King Saul (1 Samuel 18:20–21) and everyone else in her family (2 Samuel 6:20–21).

Here, David continues to rebuke his wife, saying he will continue to celebrate the Lord, in ways that she might find even more disgraceful. The servant girls who watched him dance will continue to honor him. David will not change his passionate worship to please his wife or gain her approval.

David's psalms prove that he senses something Michal doesn't: humans are undignified. God decides which leader rises and which falls, which nation wins the battle, and which is destroyed by drought. Michal has her position because her father was king and she was allowed to marry his greatest warrior (1 Samuel 18:26) who is now king. David came from nothing. He knows that every blessing he has is from God (James 1:17), and he will praise his Lord. Abasing himself is a very appropriate posture before the God of the universe.

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.

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).