2 Samuel 6: The ark is brought up to Jerusalem, Uzzah dies, and David dances
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What happens?
David gathers thirty thousand chosen men and sets out to bring God's ark up from Baale Judah on a new cart, while he and all Israel play music before Yahweh. At the threshing floor of Nacon the oxen stumble and Uzzah takes hold of the ark; Yahweh's anger burns against him, God strikes him, and he dies there. David is displeased and afraid of Yahweh, so he leaves the ark at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, and Yahweh blesses that household for three months. Then David brings the ark up to the City of David with joy and sacrifices, dancing before Yahweh with all his strength in a linen ephod, and he blesses the people and gives each of them food. Michal, Saul's daughter, despises him in her heart and tells him he uncovered himself before the maids; David answers that it was before Yahweh. Michal has no child to the day of her death.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. David speaks in verse 9, and he answers Michal in verses 21 and 22. Someone tells King David about Obed-Edom in verse 12. Michal speaks to David in verse 20. Verses 7, 8 and 11, that Yahweh's anger burned, that God struck Uzzah, that Yahweh broke out against him, and that Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom, are the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
In plain English: David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
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2David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there God’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of Yahweh of Armies who sits above the cherubim.
In plain English: David got up and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah (or: from the leading men of Judah), to bring up from there God's ark, which is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim on it.
The Hebrew words: "Baale Judah" is literally "the ba'alei of Judah", from ba'al, the word explained in the note on .
What changes: Read as a place, it is Baalah, which says is "also called Kiriath Jearim", where the ark had stayed for twenty years (); says "to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim". Read as common words, David set out from among the leading men (or: the citizens) of Judah; the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "some of the rulers of Juda".
Good to know: The Hebrew says "name" twice: "which is called name, the name of Yahweh of Armies". The same title, "Yahweh of Armies, who sits above the cherubim", is in (see the note there).
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3They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
In plain English: They set God's ark on a new cart and brought it out of Abinadab's house, which was on the hill (or: at Gibeah). Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart.
Good to know: "On the hill" is gib'ah, which the dictionary gives as "a hillock". It is also the name of the town Gibeah, so it can be read "at Gibeah". The ark was brought into "Abinadab's house on the hill" in . The Philistines had also sent it back on "a new cart" ().
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4They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.
In plain English: They brought it out of Abinadab's house on the hill (or: at Gibeah), with God's ark, and Ahio walked ahead of the ark.
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5David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.
In plain English: David and all the house of Israel were celebrating (literally: playing) before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood: harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, castanets (or: rattles) and cymbals.
Good to know: "All kinds of instruments made of cypress wood" is literally "all woods of cypress": berosh, which the dictionary gives as "a cypress (?) tree; hence, a lance or a musical instrument (as made of that wood)". tells the same moment with other words, "with all their might, even with songs", and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "on well-tuned instruments mightily, and with songs".
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6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled.
In plain English: When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out to God's ark and took hold of it, because the oxen stumbled (or: shook it).
The Hebrew word: "Stumbled" is shamat, which the dictionary gives as "to fling down ... to jostle; figuratively, to let alone". calls the place "Chidon's threshing floor".
What changes: Read as "stumbled", the oxen lost their footing. Read as "jostled", they shook the cart, and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "the ox shook it out of its place". Either way, Uzzah took hold of the ark because of the oxen.
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7Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.
In plain English: Yahweh's anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his error (or: his fault). He died there beside God's ark.
The Hebrew word: "Error" is shal, which the dictionary gives as "a fault". It is in only this verse of the Bible. says it in other words: "he struck him because he put his hand on the ark".
Good to know: The text says plainly that Yahweh's anger burned and that God struck Uzzah, and it gives no reason beyond "for his error". In Numbers the sons of Kohath carried the holy things "on their shoulders" (), and the law said "they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die" (). Later David says that no one but the Levites ought to carry God's ark, and that Yahweh "broke out in anger against us, because we didn't seek him according to the ordinance" ( and ).
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8David was displeased because Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day.
In plain English: David was displeased (or: angry; literally: it burned to David) because Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah. He (or: people) called that place Perez Uzzah (that is: the breaking out against Uzzah) to this day.
The Hebrew words: "Displeased" is literally "it burned to David", from charah, the same word used of Yahweh's anger in verse 7. The dictionary gives it as "to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy". "Broken out" is parats, and "Perez" is perets, "a break": the same words as in Baal Perazim ().
What changes: Read as "David was angry", David's anger burned because Yahweh had broken out against Uzzah. Read as "displeased" or "upset", as this Bible has it, David was troubled by what happened. The text does not say more. Verse 9 says he was also afraid of Yahweh that day.
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9David was afraid of Yahweh that day; and he said, “How could Yahweh’s ark come to me?”
In plain English: David was afraid of Yahweh that day, and he said, "How can Yahweh's ark come to me?"
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10So David would not move Yahweh’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.
In plain English: So David was not willing to move Yahweh's ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead David took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite (a man from Gath).
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11Yahweh’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.
In plain English: Yahweh's ark stayed in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
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12King David was told, “Yahweh has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.
In plain English: King David was told, "Yahweh has blessed the household of Obed-Edom, and all that he has, because of God's ark." So David went and brought up God's ark from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with joy.
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13When those who bore Yahweh’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
In plain English: When those carrying Yahweh's ark had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
Good to know: The text does not say whether David sacrificed once, after the first six steps, or again after every six steps. This time it speaks of "those who bore Yahweh's ark", and no cart is named. says the Levites "bore God's ark on their shoulders with its poles", and that they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "seven bands" carrying the ark, and "a calf and lambs".
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14David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
In plain English: David danced (or: whirled) before Yahweh with all his strength, and David was wearing (literally: was girded with) a linen ephod.
The Hebrew word: "Danced" is karar, which the dictionary gives as "to dance (i.e. whirl)". It is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and verse 16.
Good to know: "A linen ephod" is the ephod explained in the note on , where the child Samuel wears one. In the priests of Nob are "eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod". says David "was clothed with a robe of fine linen" and "had an ephod of linen on him". The old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "a fine long robe". The text here does not say why David wore it.
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15So David and all the house of Israel brought up Yahweh’s ark with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
In plain English: So David and all the house of Israel brought up Yahweh's ark with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
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16As Yahweh’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh; and she despised him in her heart.
In plain English: As Yahweh's ark came into the City of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window. She saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh, and she despised him in her heart.
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17They brought in Yahweh’s ark, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
In plain English: They brought in Yahweh's ark and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.
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18When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies.
In plain English: When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Armies.
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19He 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, each to his own house.
In plain English: He gave to all the people, to the whole crowd of Israel, men and women alike, to each one a cake of bread, a portion of dates (or: a portion of meat; see the note) and a raisin cake. Then all the people went away, each to his own house.
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew names three things for each person: a challah, "a cake", of bread; an eshpar, which the dictionary gives as "a measured portion"; and an ashishah, "a cake of raisins". Eshpar is in only 2 verses of the Bible: here and .
What changes: The Hebrew does not say what the measured portion was. This Bible says "dates" here and "a portion of meat" in 1 Chronicles 16:3, and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "a joint of meat".
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20Then 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 his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
In plain English: Then David went back to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How glorious the king of Israel was today (literally: how he has honored himself today), uncovering himself today in front of his servants' maids, the way one of the worthless men (this Bible: vain fellows) shamelessly uncovers himself!"
The Hebrew word: "Uncovered himself" is galah, which the dictionary gives as "to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense)"; it can also mean "to reveal". Michal uses it three times in her words. "Vain fellows" is from reyq, "empty; figuratively, worthless".
Good to know: These are Michal's words, and the text does not say how much David uncovered. Verse 14 says he was wearing a linen ephod, and says he also wore "a robe of fine linen".
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21David 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 I will celebrate before Yahweh.
In plain English: David said to Michal, "It was before Yahweh, who chose me over your father and over all his house, to appoint me leader (this Bible: prince) over Yahweh's people, over Israel. So I will celebrate (literally: play) before Yahweh.
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22I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honor me.”
In plain English: I will make myself even less dignified (literally: lighter) than this, and I will be low in my own eyes. But with the maids you spoke of, with them I will be honored."
The Hebrew words: "Undignified" is qalal, which the dictionary gives as "to be ... light ... (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)". "Will honor me" is kabad, "to be heavy ... (numerous, rich, honorable)". The two words are opposites, light and heavy. Michal used the second in verse 20: "How glorious" is literally "how he has honored himself".
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23Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
In plain English: Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Good to know: The text does not say why Michal had no child. In the Hebrew speaks of "the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel", and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "Michol" there too. This Bible prints "Merab" there: the daughter of Saul who was given to Adriel in .
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