2 Samuel Chapter 6

At a Glance

  • Chapter 6 charts David’s prioritized worship and the weight of sacred duty in royal leadership.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • 2 Samuel 6 sits at the intersection of worship and kingship.
  • - Holiness and reverence in leadership: God’s deadly response to improper handling of the ark teaches seriousness about sacred things.
  • - The central place of worship in kingship: David’s emphasis on bringing the ark to Zion links sovereign power with covenant worship.

CHAPTER REFERENCE

Chapter Overview

Chapter 6 charts David’s prioritized worship and the weight of sacred duty in royal leadership. After amassing a large company to bring up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim, the people move toward Jerusalem with celebratory music—harps, lutes, timbrels, and cymbals—signifying joyous, communal worship. The ark’s journey is momentous but contains a sobering crisis: Uzzah’s impulsive attempt to steady the ark when the oxen stumble leads to God’s judgment, and Uzzah dies at the ark. This event unsettles David, who fears the LORD’s presence and questions how the ark should come into the city. He withdraws, entrusting the ark to Obed-edom’s household, where it remains blessed for three months. The narrative then shifts back to David’s renewed resolve: after hearing of Obed-edom’s blessings, he brings the ark into the city with gladness, following prescribed ritual practices—six paces, oxen, and fatlings—highlighting the ceremonial rhythm of worship. David’s dance before the LORD with all his might embodies a theology of praise that integrates public life, liturgy, and national identity. The chapter ends with the ark-dwelling in Zion, reinforcing the centrality of worship in David’s kingdom and signaling that right relationship with God shapes political life.

Historical & Literary Context

2 Samuel 6 sits at the intersection of worship and kingship. It reflects an ancient Near Eastern pattern: a new king seeks to demonstrate fidelity to the covenant through proper worship. The ark’s transport represents God’s throne among Israel, and mishandling it triggers a severe divine response, underscoring that leadership and ritual purity are inseparably linked. The episode of Uzzah’s death functions as a didactic moment about reverence for God’s holiness and obedience to divine instruction. The Obed-edom interlude provides a narrative pause that intensifies the sense that God’s blessing attends proper reverence, not merely heroic leadership. The text’s liturgical emphasis, including the music, dancing, and sacrificial elements, places worship at the heart of David’s reign, foreshadowing the Psalter’s central role in Israel’s religious life.

Key Themes

- Holiness and reverence in leadership: God’s deadly response to improper handling of the ark teaches seriousness about sacred things.

- The central place of worship in kingship: David’s emphasis on bringing the ark to Zion links sovereign power with covenant worship.

- Worship as public identity: The celebration and music reflect communal joy and the nation’s shared devotion.

- Mercy and blessing through obedience: Obed-edom’s household experiences divine blessing because of proximity to the ark.

- The right rhythms of ritual: The precise acts (six paces, sacrifices) show that devotion involves intentional, ordered practice.

Modern Application

This chapter invites believers to consider how reverence for God shapes leadership and public life. It cautions against treating sacred things as mere tools for political display or personal ambition. Modern readers can apply the principle by valuing proper channels for worship and recognizing that integrity before God sustains a community’s life. The Obed-edom interlude suggests that hospitality to divine presence broadens blessing for households and communities alike. The chapter also demonstrates the transformative power of worship—public joy shared in the presence of God can redefine a nation’s identity and mission. Finally, the narrative encourages humility: even a king must slow down to seek God’s guidance when approaching what is holy, ensuring the center of gravity remains Godward rather than glory-seeking.

Cross-References: 1 Chronicles 13–16 (parallel account of bringing the ark), Psalm 24 (the king’s approach to God’s holy hill), Joshua 3 (crossing the Jordan with sacred ritual).

Recommended Personas: David (leader in worship and governance), Moses (reverence for sacred space and law), and Jesus (embodied worship in life and mission).

Chapter Text

1

Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2

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.

3

And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5

And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6

And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8

And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

9

And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?

10

So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

11

And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.

12

And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

13

And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

14

And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15

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

16

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

17

And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18

And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

19

And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20

Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21

And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.

22

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.

23

Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

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