1David fetcheth the ark from Kirjath-jearim on a new cart. 6Uzzah offering to lay hold on it is smitten dead; on which account the ark being carried into Obed-edom's house bringeth a blessing with it. 12David bringeth it into Zion, sacrificing and dancing before it, for which Michal despiseth him. 17He placeth it in a tabernacle with sacrifices and feasting. 20Michal reproving David for his religious joy is childless to her death.
1AGAIN,1 David 2gathereda together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
1 It seems that he had made the like gathering before, when he was to go forth to battle against the Philistines, 2 Sam. 5:6, etc., 22, etc. Some perceive that this has relation to the previous gathering, whereof 1 Sam. 5:1, 3.
2 Compare this history with 1 Chronicles 13, where the same is repeated.
a 1 Chron. 13:5, etc.
2And David 3arose, and went with all the people that were with him from 4Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the 5ark of God, 6whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that 7dwelleth between the 8cherubims.
3 When he was come from Jerusalem to Baalim Judah, that is, Kirjath-jearim.
4 See Joshua 15:10, 60; 1 Sam. 7:1; 1 Chron. 13:6.
5 That is, which was ordained of God for His service and for His peoples’ comfort.
6 Compare Lev. 24 on verse 11, and Deut. 28 on verse 58. Other, whose (namely, God’s) Name is called, the Name, etc. See further 1 Kings 8:29; 1 Kings 18 on verse 15.
7 Namely, upon the ark.
8 See Gen. 3 on verse 24.
3And they 9set the ark of God upon a newb cart, and 10brought it out of the housec of Abinadab that was 11in Gibeah: and Uzzah and 12Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
9 Having forgotten, or not thinking on the command of the LORD, Who had commanded the priests to bear the ark, Num. 4:14, 7:9. It seems that they herein followed the Philistines’ example: see 1 Sam. 6:7, 8, etc.
b 1 Sam. 6:7, 8, etc.
10 Hebr. lifted it, took it up.
c 1 Sam. 7:1.
11 Upon an high place which was by or in Kirjath-jearim; Hebr. Gibea, so 1 Sam. 7:1.
12 Hebr. Achio.
4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and 13Ahio went before the ark.
13 To lead the oxen that drew the cart. See verse 6. Some take the previous words thus: Now when they carried it (namely, the ark) away out of the house of Abinadab, which was upon the hill with the ark of God.
5And 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 14cornets, and on cymbals.
14 Other, trumpets, sistrums.
6¶And whend they came to 15Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth 16his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the 17oxen 18shook it.
d 1 Chron. 13:9.
15 Hebr. goren Nachon, 1 Chron. 13:9, called Chidon’s threshing floor.
16 These words are mentioned in 1 Chron. 13:9.
17 Which drew the cart with the ark.
18 Or, trod sideways, glided. Other, shake, being terrified in all their limbs, as when someone is stricken with a stroke; or, shake the ark that it seemed to be in danger of falling down.
7And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his 19error; and there he died by the ark of God.
19 Or, this fault, error, imprudence, transgression, presumption; for, God had expressly commanded, that no man should touch the holy vessels upon pain of death, but only the priests, Num. 4:15.
8And 20David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place 21Perez-uzzah 22to this day.
20 Hebr. unto David is kindled, namely, his mind, or anger with grief for the sin and punishment of Uzzah, whereby this public joy was as it were rent and interrupted. See further, 1 Chron. 15:2, 3.
21 That is, the rent, or, breach, cleft of Uzzah.
22 Namely, that name continues.
9And David was 23afraid of the LORD that day, and said, 24How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
23 Being terrified, and standing in awe of God’s majesty, holiness, righteous severity, and jealousy, he did not dare to proceed any further, being troubled at how he might be able to accomplish this work to God's pleasure.
24 As if he had said: It seems as yet not to be the LORD’S will, (in regard of this sad rent) that I should fetch it unto me; or, there must needs be yet something lacking, of which I am ignorant, and whereof I must be compelled to expect God’s revelation.
10So 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 25Obed-edom the 26Gittite.
25 Who was a Levite, one of the porters and singers. See 1 Chron. 15:18, 21; 16:38.
26 From Geth, or, Gath, a royal metropolis, or chief city of the Philistines, distinguished (according to some maps) from Gath-Rimmon, being near and allotted to the Levites, Joshua 21:24, 25. Some are of the opinion that Obed-edom fled thither with David in Saul’s time, 1 Sam. 21:10. Others, that he was born there in banishment. Others, that he was born at Gath-rimmon.
11And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: ande the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.
e 1 Chron. 13:14.
12¶And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So 27David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.
27 Concluding and trusting from this and also from other blessings of the LORD, which are related in order in 1 Chronicles 14, that the LORD was satisfied with him and his people. The manner of this bringing up of the ark is described in more detail in 1 Chronicles 15.
13And it was so, that when they that 28bare the ark of the LORD had gone 29six paces, 30he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
28 Meaning, the priests and Levites. See 1 Chron. 15:2, 12, 13, 14.
29 See 1 Chron. 15:26; other, had gone six goings.
30 Namely, David, by the priests; to praise God both in general, and also in particular, for His grace and mercy, that there was no breach made as before, and that the bearers of the ark were strengthened of God, and were preserved from an accident. This sacrifice could have occurred on an altar which was erected in a hurry, according to the command in Exod. 20:24. Compare 1 Chron. 15:26.
14And David 31danced before 32the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a 33linen ephod.
31 The Hebrew word comes from kar, signifying a lamb, which, in going onward, skips and leaps. Understand this not carnally, nor according to the manner of the children of this world, but out of mere holy, spiritual joy, or gladness, which the Holy Ghost kindled in his heart at the ordering of the pure worship of God, and the Divine types and tokens of the saving grace of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who would proceed from his seed, according to the flesh.
32 Who was present above the ark, and manifested Himself there. See 1 Sam. 4:4.
33 Hebr. ephod, that is, he had on a light linen upper garment; see 1 Sam. 2:18; and this to evidence his humility and abasement before the LORD. See verses 21, 22.
15So David and 34all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the 35sound of the trumpet.
34 See 1 Chron. 15:3, 25, and above, verse 1.
35 See 1 Chron. 15:24.
16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, 36Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David 37leaping and dancing before 38the LORD; and she 39despised him in her heart.
36 See 2 Sam. 2:13, etc.
37 Or, strengthening himself, or, (as we say) composing himself for it with his utmost might, that is, skipping with all (his) might, as verse 14.
38 As verses 14, 17, 21.
39 Judging David’s holy and spiritual work to be unholy and carnal.
17¶And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place,f in the midst of the tabernacle that David had 40pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
f 1 Chron. 15:1; 16:1.
40 Before he went forth to fetch the ark. See 1 Chron. 15:1. This he did by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to serve till such time that another house of the LORD would be built, which he intended to have done, but by God’s command and appointment was performed by Solomon. The other tent, set up by Moses, was at Shiloh, 1 Sam. 1:3, etc., and 14:3; at Nob, 1 Sam. 21:1, etc., and at Gibeon, 1 Chron. 16:39, 40.
18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, heg41blessed the people in the 42name of the LORD of hosts.
g 1 Chron. 16:2.
41 As a prophet and godly king he wished unto the people from God all corporal and spiritual prosperity.
42 See verse 2.
19And 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 43good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
43 The Hebrews understand this of such a portion or part of the animal, as friends used to honor one another at great feasts, or banquets. Some perceive that the Hebrew word, eschpar, is derived from fire and bullock, that is to say a roast beef.
20¶Then David returned to 44bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, 45How 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 46vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
44 See on verse 18.
45 She speaks this in mockery; intimating that David had, as it were, debased and exposed himself to shame and disgrace, behaving himself not as a king, but as one of the vilest and the most contemptible among the people.
46 Of the basest and vainest people, see Judges 9 on verse 4. Hebr. uncovering uncovers himself, or, being uncovered is uncovered.
21And David said unto Michal, It was 47before the LORD, which chose me 48before thy father, and before all his house, 49to appoint me 50ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD.
47 As verses 14, 16, 17; David intimates that he did all this to the honor of God, and to manifest his thankfulness for God’s incomprehensible mercy and favor, both spiritual and corporal; yea, that he (as follows) was yet duty-bound to do much more, and wanted to do so.
48 That is, bypassing your father and your father’s house.
49 Hebr. commanding, or, enjoining me a ruler, understand this to be, that is, appointing, or ordering me a leader. Compare 1 Sam. 13:14; 2 Sam. 7 on verse 11.
50 Or, captain, as 1 Sam. 9:16; 10:1; 13:14; 25:30.
22And 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, 51of them shall I be had in honour.
51 Accounting it to be no disgrace to me (as you imagine) but an honor in the sight of God, when I do honor and glorify Him with the least and poorest of His people, and make myself therein equal with them.
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child 52unto the day of her death.
52 That is, as long as she lived, never. Compare 2 Sam. 15:35; Mat. 1:25, etc.