2 Samuel 6 (FBV)

1Once again David called up all the specially chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in total.David again assembled the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in all.

2He went with all his men to Baalah in Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which belongs to the Lord Almighty who sits between the cherubim that are on the Ark.And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

3They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were directing the cartThey set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart,

4with the Ark of God on it, with Ahio walking in front of it.bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

5David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the Lord's presence, singing songs accompanied by zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

6But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out to stop the Ark of God from falling.When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.

7The Lord was angry with Uzzah, and God struck him down right there for his disobedience, and he died beside the Ark of God.And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

8David was angry because of the Lord's violent outburst against Uzzah. He called the place Perez-uzzah, which is still its name today.Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.

9David became afraid of the Lord that day. “How can I ever bring back the Ark of God home to me?” he asked.That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”

10Not wanting to bring the Ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David, he had it taken to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite.So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

11The Ark of the Lord remained in Obed-edom's home for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom's whole household.Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.

12King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went and had the Ark of God brought from Obed-edom's house to the City of David. There was a lot of celebration!Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing.

13After those carrying the Ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

14Wearing a priest's ephod, David danced as hard as he could before the LordAnd David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

15as he and all the Israelites brought along the Ark of the Lord, with plenty of shouting and the sound of horns being blown.while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

16As the Ark of the Lord was carried into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked down from a window. She watched King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she really loathed him.As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

17They brought the Ark of the Lord and put it in its place inside the tent that David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and friendship offerings before the Lord.So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18Once he had finished offering the sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.

19He gave all the Israelites, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then he sent everyone home.Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.

20When David got home to bless his family, Michal, Saul's daughter came out to meet him and said, “How distinguished the king of Israel made himself look today, taking off his robes so everyone's servant girls could see, just as somebody crude would expose himself!”When David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

21David told Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his family when he named me ruler over the Lord's people Israel. I will continue to celebrate before the Lord,But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,

22in fact I'm going to make myself even less distinguished, become even more humble. However, I will be respected by those servant girls you spoke about.”and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

23And Michal, Saul's daughter, never had any children.And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

2 Samuel 6

David Fetches the Ark

Uzzah Touches the Ark

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

Michal’s Contempt for David

You’ve read 2 Samuel 6

Go Deeper