The Ark Brought to Jerusalem

2 Samuel 6

David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 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, even the name of YHWH Almighty who sits above the cherubim. They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. David and all the house of Israel played before YHWH with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for the ark of God and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled. YHWH’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. David was displeased because YHWH had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah+6:8 “Perez Uzzah” means “outbreak against Uzzah”. to this day. David was afraid of YHWH that day; and he said, “How could the ark of YHWH come to me?” So David would not move the ark of YHWH to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. the ark of YHWH remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and YHWH blessed Obed-Edom and all his house. King David was told, “YHWH has blessed the house 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 into David’s city with joy. When those who bore the ark of YHWH had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. David danced before YHWH with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of YHWH with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

Michal Despises David’s Dancing

As the ark of YHWH came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window. When saw King David leaping and dancing before YHWH, she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of YHWH, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before YHWH. When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of YHWH Almighty. He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house.

Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How the king of Israel distinguished himself today! He uncovered himself today in the eyes of his slave girls the way a vain person uncovers-uncovers himself!”

David said to Michal, “It was before YHWH, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of YHWH, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before YHWH. I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honor me.”

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