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2 Samuel 6

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2 Samuel 6 Overview

David gathers Israel to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem, but the ark is placed on a new cart and Uzzah dies after touching it when the oxen shake the cart. David becomes afraid and leaves the ark with Obed-edom for three months. After learning that the LORD has blessed Obed-edom, David brings the ark up with sacrifice, shouting, and dancing, while Michal despises him from a window and later rebukes him.

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Before you read 2 Samuel 6

Coming from

Chapter 5 established Jerusalem as David’s capital and showed the kingdom becoming secure.

In this chapter

David seeks to make Jerusalem not only a political center but a center associated with the ark, yet the first attempt fails because holy worship is handled carelessly.

Leads into

Chapter 7 begins with the ark settled in Jerusalem and David desiring to build a permanent house for the LORD, leading to the great Davidic covenant promise.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The problem with Uzzah is not that he has a worse motive than everyone else; it is that the ark is being handled contrary to the sanctuary rules given in the Torah. The Kohathites were to bear the holy things, and the ark was not assigned to an ox cart like other tabernacle materials. First Chronicles 15 later makes David’s correction explicit: the Levites carry the ark because they had failed to seek God ‘after the due order’ the first time. David’s dancing is joyful public celebration before the LORD, not an invitation to turn worship into sensual display.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Good intentions do not cancel God’s instructions concerning holy things.

Truth 2

Uzzah’s death teaches that familiarity and urgency do not make a prohibited touch harmless.

Truth 3

David learns from the failed first attempt and later approaches the ark with greater care and reverence.

Truth 4

Public joy before the LORD and humble awareness of God’s holiness belong together rather than opposing one another.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Numbers 4:15 and 7:9 establish that the Kohathites were to bear the holy things and were not given carts for that work.

Connection 2

1 Chronicles 13 and 15 provide important parallel details and explicitly explain that the earlier failure involved not seeking God after the proper order.

Connection 3

1 Samuel 6 records an earlier use of a cart when the Philistines returned the ark; Philistine emergency practice does not replace Israel’s revealed instructions for handling it.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not portray Uzzah as casually wicked merely because judgment falls on him. The chapter’s lesson concerns the holiness of God and improper handling of the ark, not a detailed biography of Uzzah’s heart.

Keep this clear 2

David’s dancing does not establish that every possible dance style is appropriate in congregational worship. The text describes a particular royal celebration, not a command for sensual or disorderly performance.

Keep this clear 3

Verse 23 says Michal had no child unto the day of her death. The text does not explicitly state whether this was direct divine judgment, marital estrangement, or both; avoid claiming more than the verse says.

Read 2 Samuel 6 watching for…

How the ark is transported during the first attempt.

Why the procession suddenly stops.

David’s emotional reaction to Uzzah’s death.

What changes before the successful procession.

How David expresses joy before the LORD.

The contrast between David’s and Michal’s interpretations of his public worship.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-5David begins bringing the ark toward Jerusalem 6-11Uzzah dies, and the ark remains with Obed-edom 12-19David brings the ark into Jerusalem with rejoicing and sacrifices 20-23Michal despises David and is rebuked

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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2 Samuel 6:13

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