Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary2 Samuel 6

The Removal of the ArkThis section tells about the time when King David decided to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. The ark had been neglected for many years, kept in a private house after being returned by the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:1, 2 ). Now that David was king, he wanted to honor the ark again and show the people its importance. This event was not just about moving a sacred object, but about restoring the people’s respect for God’s presence among them.v. 1: David gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in total, to help bring the ark to Jerusalem . He wanted this to be a special and joyful event, and he involved many important leaders and the people.

v. 2: The ark is described with great honor as the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord

v. 3–4: The people placed the ark on a new cart to carry it from the house of Abinadab. The leaders agreed with David’s plan (2 Samuel 6:3–4; 1 Chronicles 13:1-3 ). Many people came to witness this important event, and it made a strong impression on the whole nation, especially on the younger generation who had not seen the ark before. However, there was a mistake in how they moved the ark. They carried it on a cart, but God’s law said the priests should carry it on their shoulders (Numbers 7:9 ). Even though they used a new cart, this was not the way God had commanded. The Philistines had moved the ark with a cart because they did not know better, but God expected His people to follow His instructions exactly. We see that even good leaders can sometimes make mistakes if they focus so much on the main goal that they forget important details.

v. 5: As the ark was moved, David and all the people celebrated with music and singing. They played many instruments and rejoiced because the ark was coming out of hiding and would soon be in a public place for all to see and worship before it . Their joy was focused on God, and it is possible that David wrote Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered (Psalm 68:1 ) for this occasion.

Uzzah Slain for Touching the Ark; The Ark in the House of Obed-edomThis section describes a solemn event during the journey of the ark to Jerusalem. Uzzah tried to steady the ark when the oxen stumbled, but was struck dead by God for touching it. This sudden death stopped the celebration and reminded everyone to treat holy things with great respect. The ark was then left in the house of Obed-edom, who received God’s blessing for welcoming it.v. 6: Uzzah and his brother Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the ark on the cart. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out and touched the ark to steady it . Even though Uzzah meant well, it was against God’s law for anyone except priests to touch the ark (Numbers 4:15 ). Uzzah’s familiarity with the ark may have made him careless, but God expected everyone to obey His commands exactly.

v. 7: God was angry with Uzzah for his rash action and struck him dead on the spot . Even though Uzzah’s intentions were good, God wanted to teach His people that holy things must be treated with reverence. God’s rules are serious, and good intentions do not excuse disobedience. This event showed the people that God’s ark was still holy and powerful, even after many years in a private house.

v. 8: David was upset and displeased that God had punished Uzzah so severely . He called the place Perez-uzzah, meaning “the breach of Uzzah.” David should have humbled himself and recognized God’s justice, but instead he was frustrated. We must remember never to be angry with God’s actions, even when they are hard to understand.

v. 9: David also became afraid of God and wondered, How shall the ark of the Lord

v. 10: Because of what happened, David decided not to bring the ark to Jerusalem right away. Instead, he left it in the house of Obed-edom, a Levite, near the place where Uzzah died . David wanted to wait until he was sure it was safe to move the ark the right way.

v. 11: The ark stayed in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and God blessed him and his whole family for welcoming the ark . Even though the ark brought punishment to those who treated it wrongly, it brought great blessing to those who received it with respect. This teaches us that serving God with a sincere heart will always bring good results, not only for us but also for our families.

Michal Despises DavidThis section describes David’s second attempt to bring the ark of God to Jerusalem. Unlike the first attempt, this time the effort succeeds. David learns from past mistakes and follows God’s instructions more carefully. The joy of having the ark is shared by David and all the people, but not everyone is pleased with how David celebrates.v. 12: David decides to bring the ark to Jerusalem after hearing how God blessed Obed-edom’s house because of the ark. This showed that God’s anger had passed and that God was now showing favor. David realized that the ark was not a burden, but a blessing. Just as the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6–8 ), the ark brought happiness to those who welcomed it. The good things that happened to Obed-edom encouraged David and the people to honor God in their own lives.

v. 13: David corrects his earlier mistake by following God’s law. This time, the Levites carried the ark on their shoulders, not on a cart (1 Chronicles 15:15 ). As soon as they started the journey, David offered sacrifices to God. These sacrifices were to ask forgiveness for past errors and to thank God for blessing Obed-edom. This teaches us to start every important task by making peace with God, remembering that we have a relationship with Him because of the perfect sacrifice (Psalm 50:5 ).

v. 14: David joins the celebration with great joy. He dances before the Lord

v. 15: All the people join in. They bring the ark to Jerusalem with shouts and the sound of trumpets. This public celebration shows their happiness and invites everyone around to rejoice with them. When people can worship God together openly and freely, it is a reason to celebrate.

v. 16: When Michal saw David dancing before the Lord

v. 17: The ark is placed in the special tent David prepared. It is not the old tabernacle from Moses’ time, which was at Gibeon (2 Chronicles 1:13 ), but a new tent set up just for this purpose. David does not put the ark in his own house, so that everyone can come and worship freely. He also does not build a permanent temple yet, because that will happen later. As soon as the ark is settled, David offers burnt offerings and peace offerings, thanking God that everything went well. Our happiest moments should include both praise and prayer to God, because with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Psalm 132:1-8 ).

v. 18: David blesses all the people in the name of the Lord

v. 19: David also gives everyone a generous meal—a cake of bread, a good piece of meat, and a flagon of wine. This act is a sign of his joy and thankfulness to God. It is also a way to show kindness to the people, making them feel included and appreciated. Like the feast of Purim, where people send gifts to each other (Esther 9:22 ), David’s generosity helps the people remember God’s goodness and strengthens their loyalty to their king.

v. 20: After blessing the people, David returned home to bless his household. He wanted to pray with his family and thank God for the blessing of the ark. Even though David was king, he led his family in worship himself. But when he arrived, Michal met him with harsh words. She mocked him, saying, How glorious was the king of Israel today! She said he had acted like a foolish man in front of everyone, especially the servant girls. Michal was not angry about David’s generosity, but about how he humbled himself before God. Her pride made her upset, not her love for David or God (2 Samuel 3:13 ).

v. 21: David replied that he danced before the Lord

v. 22: David added, I will be yet more vile than this, and will be humble in my own sight. He was not afraid to look low or silly if it meant honoring God. Even though he was king, he was willing to act like an ordinary person to worship God. The greatest people are never too important to serve God humbly. David also believed that the people, even the servant girls, would respect him more for his devotion, not less. Sometimes, true faith wins respect from others, even when they first criticize it (2 Corinthians 5:11 ).

v. 23: David did not punish Michal for her words, but God did. From that time on, Michal had no children. Because she mocked David’s devotion, she was left childless as a sign of God’s displeasure (2 Samuel 6:23 ). This teaches that those who honor God, God will honor, but those who despise Him will be lightly esteemed.