2 Samuel 6

Except for a brief reference in 1 Samuel 14:18 (see note), the ark of the covenant does not appear again after 1 Samuel 7:1–2. In that passage, the Philistines returned the captured ark to Beth-shemesh, and it was later taken to Kiriath-jearim. There, the ark was placed in the home of Abinadab.

The ark’s long absence during the reign of Saul is significant. It shows that Saul did not seek the Lord and was spiritually insensitive (see 1 Chronicles 10:13–14; 13:3). During Saul’s forty-year reign, the ark played little or no role in Israel’s worship or leadership.

In contrast, David brought the ark to Jerusalem. By doing this, David publicly acknowledged the Lord as Israel’s true king in the new capital (see 2 Samuel 6:2). The ark’s arrival showed that Israel’s political center was now also a place of worship.

is enthroned between the cherubim: See also 1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Kings 19:15; Psalms 80:1; 99:1.

• According to God’s instructions, the ark was to be carried by Levites from the clan of Kohath. They were to lift it using two poles placed through four rings at the corners of the ark (Exodus 25:14; 37:5; Numbers 4:6). In this event, the people did not follow God’s instructions.

• Uzzah and Ahio: In 1 Samuel 7:1, Eleazar, another son of Abinadab, was responsible for taking care of the ark.

The musical instruments were played by Levites (1 Chronicles 16:4–6).

took hold of the ark: Uzzah likely acted with good intentions and responded quickly. However, by touching the ark, he disobeyed God’s command (see Exodus 19:12–13; Numbers 4:15). As a result, he received the same punishment as the people of Beth-shemesh (1 Samuel 6:19). Later, David had the Levites carry the ark into Jerusalem, following God’s instructions (see 1 Chronicles 15:2, 13–15).

• David became angry because the LORD had burst forth: Compare Genesis 4:5, 1 Samuel 15:11, Jonah 4:1, and Luke 15:27–28.

• Perez-uzzah: The first part of this name (Perez) appears in 2 Samuel 5:20. This was where God broke through the Philistine ranks. There, it describes Baal-perazim, the place where God broke through the Philistine forces.

David feared: Like David, Moses responded with fear when God showed his anger (Deuteronomy 9:19). Moses also trembled when God revealed his powerful and fiery presence (see Hebrews 12:21).

Obed-edom was a Levite (1 Chronicles 15:18, 21; 16:38; 26:4, 8, 15; 2 Chronicles 25:24). He lived in either the Philistine city of Gath or an Israelite town with a similar name (for example, Gath-rimmon, a city given to the Levites, Joshua 21:25).

God blessed Obed-edom with health, prosperity, and family. God’s presence, which is a curse to the ungodly (1 Samuel 5)is a blessing to his people. Obed-edom must have taken care to preserve the ark's holiness.

David reasoned that if God blessed Obed-edom simply for keeping the ark, then God would surely bless David for placing the ark in a special dwelling built for it in the capital city.

David offered this sacrifice of praise to God immediately, just six steps into the journey.

linen ephod: This word comes from the Hebrew ’epod, often written as ephod. It is related to an Akkadian word, epattu, which means “a costly garment.” The ephod was often decorated with gold. People used garments like this to clothe statues of gods. Because priests and sometimes kings were seen as sacred persons (set apart for God), they wore garments of this type (see 1 Samuel 2:18, 28; 14:3; 22:18; 23:6, 9).

In 2 Samuel 15:10, rams’ horns announce the crowning of a new king. In 2 Samuel 20:1, they announce rebellion. Here, the horns celebrate placing the ark in its own tent (see study note on 2 Samuel 6:17). This action symbolically placed Yahweh’s throne in Jerusalem.

Michal is identified as the daughter of Saul three times in this chapter (2 Samuel 6:16, 20, 23). By repeatedly naming her father, the text highlights the tension in her identity. Was Michal more David’s wife, or was she still Saul’s daughter?

This tension also raises questions about David’s motives. When David brought Michal back to him earlier (2 Samuel 3:13), did he do so because he loved her, or because she strengthened his political position?

Michal’s contempt for David may have had several causes:

1. She may have thought David’s behavior was inappropriate and too suggestive in front of young women.

2. She may have felt jealous because David received public honor while she remained at home as a neglected wife.

3. She may have resented David for many years of emotional distance, for taking other wives, and for separating her from her second husband, Palti (2 Samuel 3:16–17).

4. She may have felt deep sorrow over her father’s death and anger that David’s success came at the expense of Saul’s family line (see study note on 2 Samuel 6:21)

The special tent that David made for the ark was not as rich as the tent used during the wilderness wanderings. Even so, it returned Israel to an older wilderness tradition that had ended two generations earlier, when Shiloh was destroyed (Psalm 78:60–61).

David’s tent was the final form of the tabernacle. Solomon, David’s successor, later built a permanent temple for the Lord.

This event was a time of joy, not sorrow for sin. Because of this, the people offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, but they did not offer sin offerings or guilt offerings.

blessed the people: Blessing the people was usually the role of priests. However, kings also gave blessings at important national events. This happened with Solomon and with Hezekiah (1 Kings 8:14, 55; 2 Chronicles 6:3; 2 Chronicles 31:8).

David’s gifts of food to every Israelite anticipated other royal gifts they would receive while he was king.

David’s response to Michal may suggest the deeper reason for her anger. She may have resented David’s success because her father’s family was losing power and honor.

David could not hold back his excitement while celebrating before the Lord. In fact, he became even more enthusiastic than before.

Michal was the only one of David’s many wives who did not have a child by him. After she showed contempt for David’s joyful worship, the text states that she had no children for the rest of her life. Some scholars think this suggests that God prevented her from having children as judgment for her contempt toward David’s joyful worship (compare Genesis 20:17–18). Another possibility is that David and Michal’s marriage became so damaged that they no longer lived together as husband and wife.

Because Michal remained childless, another line of Saul’s family came to an end. This moment marks Michal’s final appearance in the biblical account.