2 Samuel 6 (Listen)
The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
6:1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. 3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio,1 the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart, 4 with the ark of God,2 and Ahio went before the ark.
Uzzah and the Ark
5 And David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD, with songs3 and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals. 6 And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah4 to this day. 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10 So David was not willing to take the ark of the LORD into the city of David. But David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
12 And it was told King David, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing. 13 And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn.
David and Michal
16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat,5 and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants’ female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince6 over Israel, the people of the LORD—and I will celebrate before the LORD. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your7 eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
Footnotes
[1] 6:3
[2] 6:4
[3] 6:5
[4] 6:8
[5] 6:19
[6] 6:21
[7] 6:22
(ESV)
2 Samuel 6 Commentary
In 2 Samuel 6, David gathered 30,000 of Israel’s fit young men to retrieve the ark of God from Baale-judah, where it had been at Abinadab’s house (2 Samuel 6:1-3). The ark, which bears the Name of the Lord of Armies enthroned between the cherubim, was placed on a new cart guided by Abinadab’s sons, Uzzah and Ahio (2 Samuel 6:2-4). As the procession celebrated with music, the oxen stumbled at Nacon’s threshing floor, and Uzzah reached out to steady the ark. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him dead for his irreverence (2 Samuel 6:5-7).
David, who was troubled, named the place “Outburst Against Uzzah” and left the ark in the house of Obed-edom of Gath (2 Samuel 6:8-10). The ark remained there for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household (2 Samuel 6:11). Hearing of this, David brought the ark to the city of David with great rejoicing, sacrificing after every six steps (2 Samuel 6:12-13). David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a linen ephod, while the people shouted and blew the ram’s horn (2 Samuel 6:14-15).
As the ark entered the city, Michal, Saul’s daughter, saw David dancing and despised him in her heart (2 Samuel 6:16). The ark was set in a tent, and David offered burnt and fellowship offerings, then blessed the people and distributed food to everyone (2 Samuel 6:17–19). When David returned home, Michal confronted him, accusing him of acting shamefully. David responded that he danced before the Lord who chose him over her father, and that he would continue to humble himself, even if others thought less of him (2 Samuel 6:20-22). Michal had no children to the day of her death (2 Samuel 6:23).
The Plan To Transport The Ark
David assembled a large, elite force of 30,000 men from across Israel (not just one tribe) to retrieve the ark of God from Baalah (also called Kiriath Jearim), where it had been kept in a private home since the days of Samuel. His concern was not only to honor the ark’s sacredness but also to protect it from potential Philistine attacks, since it was located near enemy territory and had immense religious value. It represented God’s throne and presence and held the covenant tablets (Exo 25:16, Deut 10:5, 1 Ki 8:9, 1 Sam 4:4, 2 Ki 19:15, Psa 80:1, Isa 37:16).
To transport the ark, they placed it on a new cart. On the surface, this seems like a good-intentioned approach. The issue is that it blatantly violated the Torah instructions, which required the ark to be carried by Levites using poles (Num 4:15; 7:9). Remember, several chapters back, the Philistines had foolishly and ignorantly returned the ark on a cart (1 Sam 6:7, 10). Despite the celebratory music and sincere worship, the decision to move the ark this way showed a lack of attention to God’s commands, and the consequences were fatal.
As the cart was being transported, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah instinctively reached out to steady the ark. Though likely a Levite, he was not authorized to touch the ark, which made his action a violation of God’s law and a defilement of His holiness. As a result, God struck him down immediately for his irreverence.
“Since he was not an Aaronic priest, he was prohibited from touching this holiest object in the Yahwistic faith. Uzzah’s conscientious effort to protect the ark actually defiled it; accordingly, “the LORD’S anger burned against Uzzah” (v. 7). Uzzah’s act violated a divinely established taboo and was therefore “irreverent”; appropriately, “God”—not some impersonal force—“struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.” For the third time in the books of Samuel (cf. 1 Sam 5:3-12; 6:19-20), the Lord had demonstrated that he was capable of defending the ark.”
The New American Commentary
David was deeply disturbed by this judgment. He was not necessarily angry at God, but shaken by the seriousness of Uzzah’s misstep and its consequences. Just imagine the scene. There is dancing, music, and joyful celebration as the ark is being transported. Then, suddenly, Uzzah is struck dead. You can imagine the shock!
Ignoring God’s Word
We have all been in situations like this where the very thing we wanted to avoid winds up happening. David attempted to avoid such a tragedy by planning out the details of this transport, and in the end, his fellow Israelite lost his life. However, the tragedy could have been avoided. David did not consult the Lord on this matter. He consulted his leaders and commanders (1 Ch 13:1-4). This was uncharacteristic of David, but it shows that he, too, requires God’s grace.
David named the place “Perez Uzzah,” meaning “Outburst Against Uzzah,” and out of fear, he decided not to move the ark to Jerusalem at that time. Instead, he left it at the home of Obed-edom, where it remained for three months. During that time, God blessed Obed-edom and his household, showing that His presence brought favor when approached properly. Interestingly, it is possible that the “blessing” from the ark produced an abundance of sons and grandsons who were described as strong and capable men (1 Ch 26:8).
Carrying The Ark
There is no doubt that David learned from this blunder. I am sure he examined his heart, because his second attempt is executed with reverence and thoughtfulness.
Transport Method
- First attempt: The ark was placed on a cart (2 Samuel 6:3), which violated the law (Num 4:15).
- Second attempt: Levites carried the ark by hand, as instructed in the law (2 Samuel 6:13; Num 4:15).
Ritual Offerings
- First attempt: No offerings are mentioned.
- Second attempt: After just six steps, David offered a bull and a fattened calf as sacrifices (2 Samuel 6:13).
Spiritual Care and Reverence
- First attempt: Seemed more casual, copying the Philistine method (1 Sam 6:7-8).
- Second attempt: Journey marked by reverence and symbolism (Robert Bergen notes that stopping after six steps may suggest Sabbath-like consecration – 2 Samuel 6:13).
David’s Clothing and Preparation
- First attempt: No mention of special clothing or preparation.
- Second attempt: David wore a linen ephod (2 Sam 6:14), and according to 1 Ch 15:27, also a robe of fine linen, priest-like garments.
Jerusalem Prepared
- First attempt: No mention of where the ark would go.
- Second attempt: David set up a special tent in Jerusalem for the ark (2 Samuel 6:17; 1 Ch 16:39-40).
Humiliated For The Lord
David “danced with all his might” before the Lord as the Ark was brought back to Jerusalem. Wearing priestly garments, David was passionate about worshiping and honoring the Lord. Everything in the text indicates he was appropriately dressed with a linen ephod and a linen undergarment. This is consistent with Exodus (Exo 28:42). David also offered sacrifices, blessed the people, and gave food gifts – actions resembling Melchizedek’s priestly role (Gen 14:18-19).
Saul’s daughter, Michal, was not at all impressed. David and Michal’s relationship was marked by political alliance, personal conflict, and spiritual division. Remember, Michal initially loved David. She helped him escape her father’s wrath (1 Sam 18:20; 19:11-17). However, Saul later gave her to another man, Paltiel (1 Sam 25:44). After becoming king, David demanded her return as part of consolidating his rule (2 Sam 3:13-16). Though reunited, their relationship remained strained.
We get the impression here in 2 Samuel 6 that their relationship is on the rocks. First, Michal was not involved in the festivities of transporting the ark. This is strange. Second, she (wrongly) accused David of acting indecently in front of women and literally refers to him as a “vulgar fellow,” implying that his actions were motivated by sexual immorality instead of zeal for the Lord. I guess Michal thought David’s dance moves were pretty cringy!
David replied that his actions were for the Lord, not for appearances, and that he was willing to be even more humiliated/embarrassed if it honored God! The reality is that David knew in his heart that his actions were appropriate and God-fearing. On top of this, there is no indication that the Lord was displeased with David. On the contrary, the chapter ends by stating that Michal was childless the rest of her days, indicating her bitter attitude toward David was really a bigger problem with God.
Bitterness
This dynamic still plays out in relationships today. When our hearts grow cold or bitter toward God, we may begin projecting that frustration onto others. Like Michal, who criticized David’s joyful worship, we can mask spiritual disconnect with relational conflict, directing our resentment toward those closest to us. But David wasn’t Michal’s true problem. Her bitterness flowed from a deeper issue: her distance from the Lord.
This should prompt each of us to self-reflect. Where have we allowed disappointment, pride, or spiritual apathy to fester into relational tension? Are we criticizing others, not because of what they’ve done, but because we’re wrestling with God silently in our hearts? When we lose intimacy with Him, we often lose grace for others.
It’s sobering, but also redemptive: if the root is spiritual, then healing begins with turning back to God. Before we confront people, we may need to first confront the state of our own soul. Restoring joy in the Lord often softens our heart toward those around us.
