Bible Commentaries
2 Samuel 6

Verses 1-23

2 Samuel 6:1-23 David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem - This same story of David bringing the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem is given in more detail in 1 Chronicles 13-16.

2 Samuel 6:2 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.

2 Samuel 6:2 “Baale of Judah” - Comments - This is the same as Kirjathjearim (1 Samuel 7:1-2, 1 Chronicles 13:5-6).

1 Samuel 7:1-2, “And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years : and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.”

1 Chronicles 13:5-6, “So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim , which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.”

2 Samuel 6:3 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.

2 Samuel 6:3 “they set the ark of God upon a new cart” - Comments - Note in Numbers 7:2-9 that all of the items of the Tabernacle were carried in carts, except the furniture of the Tabernacle, which was holy. The furniture was to be carried on the shoulders of the priests. King David made the mistake of carrying the Ark of the Covenant on a cart when he was bringing it to Jerusalem.

Numbers 7:2-9, “That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered: And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen ; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation ; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service. And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service: And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders .

David realized his mistake, and later corrected this error (1 Chronicles 15:13).

1 Chronicles 15:13, “For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.”

The Law of Moses had given clear instructions on how to carry the Ark of the Covenant. The sons of Kohath were to bear the ark upon their shoulders (Numbers 4:15; Numbers 7:9; Numbers 10:21, Deuteronomy 10:8).

Numbers 4:15, “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it : but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.”

Numbers 7:9, “But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders .”

Numbers 10:21, “ And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary : and the other did set up the tabernacle against they came.”

Deuteronomy 10:8, “At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD , to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.”

We find examples of this in other Scriptures:

Joshua 3:14, “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;”

2 Samuel 15:24, “And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.”

2 Samuel 6:7 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.

2 Samuel 6:7 “for his error” - Comments - Or, “because of his irreverence or rashness.” By stretching out his hand to steady the ark, Uzzah dishonoured the office of the priest, and therefore he dishonoured God. This irreverence was also committed by Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, in the wilderness (Leviticus 10:1-2).

Leviticus 10:1-2, “And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”

2 Samuel 6:7 Comments - The Law of Moses had warned that death was the penalty for anyone who touched the holy articles of the tabernacle (Numbers 4:15). An intriguing and popular theory today suggests that the ark was designed in such a way that it was a capacitor for electricity. Therefore, it held voltage that would kill anyone who touched it apart from the two rods by which God designed it to be carried.

Numbers 4:15, “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die . These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.”

2 Samuel 6:8 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.

2 Samuel 6:8 Word Study on “Perezuzzah” PTW says the Hebrew name “Perezuzzah” means, “breach of Uzzah.”

2 Samuel 6:10 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.

2 Samuel 6:10 “the Gittite” - Comments - The Gittites were Philistines who inhabited the city of Gath.

Joshua 13:2-3, “This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines , and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites , and the Ekronites; also the Avites:”

It appears that a group of 600 Gittites joined themselves with the Cherethites and the Pelethities as David's bodyguards:

2 Samuel 15:18-19, “And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath , passed on before the king. Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite , Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile .”

2 Samuel 18:2, “And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite . And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.”

Goliath, who David killed with a sling, was a Gittite:

2 Samuel 21:19, “And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim, a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite , the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.”

2 Samuel 6:11 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.

2 Samuel 6:11 Comments - Although Obed-Edom was a Philistine of Gath, he was now living in the land of Judah as an exile. This same ark, which brought curses to the land of the Philistines, now brought blessings to this house.

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

2 Samuel 6:14 “And David danced before the LORD with all his might” Comments - In one of Kenneth Hagin’s heavenly visions, Jesus referred to this verse as He was discussing New Testament worship with him. [51] Because the believers under the Old Covenant were not filled with the Spirit, their worship was “in the flesh.” Therefore, in this verse, David danced “before the Lord” rather than “in the Spirit.” He danced “with all his might” rather than “under the anointing.”

[51] Kenneth Hagin, Plans Purposes and Pursuits (Tulsa, Oklahoma: Faith Library Publications, c1988, 1993), 86.

Under the New Covenant, we are to worship the Lord “in spirit and in truth.”

John 4:23-24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

In true worship under the New Covenant, everything that we do must be done in the Spirit, inspired and led by the moving of the Holy Spirit in the service. Otherwise, the worship is done in the flesh and the moving of the Spirit will be quenched.

We do find other Old Testament Scriptures that tell us to dance before the Lord.

Psalms 149:3, “Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.”

Psalms 150:4, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”

The references in the Old Testament to dancing are a part of the pattern for Old Testament worship. Kenneth Hagin says that although the principles and examples in the Old Testament may be the same as in the New Testament, the practices are not the same.

2 Samuel 6:14 “and David was girded with a linen ephod” - Comments - This linen ephod was normally worn by those priests who ministered and served in the Temple (1 Samuel 2:18; 1 Samuel 22:18).

1 Samuel 2:18, “But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod .”

1 Samuel 22:18, “And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod .”

In addition to the linen ephod, David was also wearing a robe of fine linen (1 Chronicles 15:17). So, he was wearing two garments.

1 Chronicles 15:27, “And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen , and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen .”

2 Samuel 6:19 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.

2 Samuel 6:19 Word Study on “a flagon of wine” - Strong says the Hebrew word “flagon of wine “ash-ee-shaw’” ( אֲשִׁישָׁה ) (H809) means, “a cake of raisins or other comfits, flagon.” Webster defines a flagon as “a vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or stoneware rather than of glass.” The Enhanced Strong says this Hebrew word is used 4 times in the Old Testament, being translated in the KJV as “flagon 4.” Modern versions translate this word as “raisin-cakes.” Note the other uses in the Old Testament, which supports the translation of “raisin-cakes” within its context.

2 Samuel 6:19, “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.”

1 Chronicles 16:3, “And he dealt to every one of Israel, both man and woman, to every one a loaf of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine.”

Song of Solomon 2:5, “Stay me with flagons , comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.”

Hosea 3:1, “Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.”

2 Samuel 6:20 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!

2 Samuel 6:20 “who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants” - Comments - This may have taken place if David was wearing only the linen ephod, with nothing under it (2 Samuel 6:14).

2 Samuel 6:20 “as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself” Comments - In every culture there are those who shamelessly uncover their body parts to ease themselves in public. This takes place particularly in underdeveloped cultures where people must walk distances rather than drive in cars.