2 Samuel Chapter 6

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

1 David gathered elite troops from Israel again, 30,000. 2 He and the troops went to Baale-judah to bring up God’s Ark called The Name: the LORD of Hosts Enthroned Above the Cherubs. 3 They placed the Ark on a new cart to bring it from Abinadab’s house that was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, 4 were bringing the Ark on the cart; Ahio was walking ahead of it. 5 Meanwhile, David and the House of Israel were celebrating enthusiastically in the LORD’s presence with all kinds of instruments made out of fir: lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.

6 But when they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah grabbed the Ark because the oxen nearly upset it. 7 The LORD lashed out and struck him down for his disrespect. He died there by the Ark. 8 David was mad because the LORD had “lashed out against Uzzah.” The place is still called Perez-uzzah. 9 David was afraid of the LORD that day, “How can the Ark come to me?” 10 He wasn’t willing to take it to The City of David. He took it aside to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. 11 It stayed there three months, and the LORD blessed him and his family.

2 Sam 6:1-11

12 King David heard that the LORD had blessed Obed-edom’s house and everything he had because of the Ark, so he brought it to The City of David with celebration. 13 When the ones carrying the Ark had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a grain-fed calf. 14 He was dancing in the LORD’s presence with all his energy, wearing a linen ephod. 15 He and the House of Israel brought up the Ark with shouting and the sound of rams’ horns. 16 As it came into the city, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked out the window and saw him leaping and dancing, and she despised him. 17 They brought the Ark and set it in its place inside the tent David pitched for it, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 18 When he’d finished offering them, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 He passed out a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to every man and woman in the crowd. Then everybody went home.                             

2 Sam 6:12-19

20 When David went back to bless his household, Michal came out,

“How Israel’s king distinguished himself today, exposing himself in front of his servant girls like a shameless fool!”

21 He told her,

“I celebrated in front of the LORD, who chose me over your father and his family, and appointed me to rule his people. 22 I’ll be even less dignified than this and humble in my own eyes, but I’ll be respected by the servant girls you’ve mentioned.”

23 Michal didn’t have any children the rest of her life.

2 Sam 6:20-23

From the CNT translation by Virgil Warren, PhD