II Samuel

David again assembled all the best soldiers in Israel, thirty thousand strong.

aVerses 2–12 are found also in 1 Chron. 13.5–14, with variations. Then David and all the troops that were with him set out from BaalimbBaalim Identical with Baalah, another name for Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark had been kept (cf. 1 Sam. 6.21; 1 Chron. 13.6; Josh. 15.9). of Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God to which the Name was attached, the name GOD of Hosts Enthroned on the Cherubim.

They loaded the Ark of God onto a new cart and conveyed it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Abinadab’s sons, Uzza and Ahio, guided the new cart.

They conveyed it from Abinadab’s house on the hill, [Uzza walking]c[Uzza walking] Cf. vv. 6–7. alongsidednew cart … alongside Septuagint and 4QSamᵃ read “cart alongside.” the Ark of God and Ahio walking in front of the Ark.

Meanwhile, David and all the House of Israel danced before GOD to [the sound of] all kinds of cypress wood [instruments],e[the sound of … instruments] Cf. Kimhi; the parallel passage 1 Chron. 13.8 reads “with all their might and with songs.” with lyres, harps, hand-drums, sistrums, and cymbals.

But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out for the Ark of God and grasped it, for the oxen had stumbled.fstumbled Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

GOD was incensed at Uzzah. And God struck him down on the spot for his indiscretion,gfor his indiscretion So Targum; 1 Chron. 13.10 reads “because he had laid a hand on the Ark.” and he died there beside the Ark of God.

David was distressed because GOD had inflicted a breach upon Uzzah; and that place was named Perez-uzzah,hPerez-uzzah I.e., “the Breach of Uzzah”; cf. 5.20 and note. as it is still called.

David was afraid of GOD that day; he said, “How can I let the Ark of GOD come to me?”

So David would not bring the Ark of GOD to his place in the City of David; instead, David diverted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

The Ark of GOD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and GOD blessed Obed-edom and his whole household.

It was reported to King David: “GOD has blessed Obed-edom’s house and all that belongs to him because of the Ark of God.” iVv. 12b–14 are found, with variations, in 1 Chron. 15.25–27; vv. 15–19a, with variations, in 1 Chron. 15.28–16.3; vv. 19b–20a, with variations, in 1 Chron. 16.43. Thereupon David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David, amid rejoicing.

When the bearers of the Ark of GOD had moved forward six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.jan ox and a fatling 4QSamᵃ reads “seven oxen and seven [rams]”; cf. 1 Chron. 15.26.

David whirled with all his might before GOD; David was girt with a linen ephod.

Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the Ark of GOD with shouts and with blasts of the horn.

As the Ark of GOD entered the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and whirling before GOD; and she despised him for it.

They brought in the Ark of GOD and set it up in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before GOD.

When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of GOD of Hosts.

And he distributed among all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman alike—to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake.kcake made in a pan…raisin cake Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Then all the people left for their homes.

David went home to greet his household. And Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “Didn’t the king of Israel do himself honor today—exposing himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, as one of the riffraff might expose himself!”

David answered Michal, “It was before GOD—who chose me instead of your father and all his family and appointed me ruler over Israel, GOD’s people! I will dance before GOD

and dishonor myself even more, and be low in my ownlmy own Septuagint reads “your.” esteem; but among the maidservants that you speak of I will be honored.”

So to her dying day Michal daughter of Saul had no children.