CHAPTER 6
And he
and all
his troops
set out
for Baale of Judah
to bring up
from there
the ark
of God,
which
is called
by the Name,
the name
of the LORD
of Hosts
who is enthroned
between the cherubim
that are on it.
They set
the ark
of God
on
a new
cart
and brought it
from the house
of Abinadab,
which
was on the hill.
Uzzah
and Ahio,
the sons
of Abinadab,
were guiding
the new
cart,
bringing
with it
the ark
of God
from the house
of Abinadab,
which was
on the hill.
And Ahio
was walking
in front
of the ark.
David
and all
the house
of Israel
were celebrating
before
the LORD
with all kinds
of wood instruments,
harps,
stringed instruments,
tambourines,
sistrums,
and cymbals.
When they came
to
the threshing floor
of Nachon,
Uzzah
reached out
and took hold
of
the ark
of God,
because
the oxen
had stumbled.
And the anger
of the LORD
burned
against Uzzah,
and God
struck him
down
on the spot
for his irreverence,
and he died
there
beside
the ark
of God.
Then David
became angry
because
the LORD
had burst forth
against Uzzah;
so he named
that
place
Perez-uzzah,
as it is called to
this
day.
So he
was unwilling
to move
the ark
of the LORD
to
the City
of David;
instead, he took
it aside
to the house
of Obed-edom
the Gittite.
Thus the ark
of the LORD
remained
in the house
of
Obed-edom
the Gittite
for three
months,
and the LORD
blessed
him
and all
his household.
Now it was reported
to King
David,
“The LORD
has blessed
the house
of Obed-edom
and
all
that
belongs to him,
because of
the ark
of God.”
So David
went
and had the ark
of God
brought up
from the house
of Obed-edom
into the City
of David
with rejoicing.
When
those carrying
the ark
of the LORD
had advanced
six
paces,
he sacrificed
an ox
and a fattened calf.
while he
and all
the house
of Israel
brought up
the ark
of the LORD
with shouts
and the sound
of the trumpets.
As the ark
of the LORD
was entering
the City
of David,
Saul’s
daughter
Michal
looked down
from
a window
and saw
King
David
leaping
and dancing
before
the LORD,
and she despised him
in her heart.
So they brought
the ark
of the LORD
and set
it
in its place
inside
the tent
that
David
had pitched
for it.
Then David
offered
burnt offerings
and peace offerings
before
the LORD.
When David
had finished
sacrificing
the burnt offerings
and peace offerings,
he blessed
the people
in the name
of the LORD
of Hosts.
Then he distributed
to all
the multitude
of Israel,
both men
and
women,
a
loaf
of bread,
a
date cake,
and a
raisin cake.
And all
the people
departed,
each
for his own home.
As soon as David
returned
home to bless
his own household,
Saul’s
daughter
Michal
came out
to meet him.
“How
the king
of Israel
has distinguished himself
today!”
she said.
“He
has uncovered himself
today
in the sight
of the maidservants
of his subjects,
like a
vulgar person
would do.”
But David
said
to
Michal,
“I was dancing before
the LORD
who
chose
me
over your father
and all
his house
when He appointed
me
ruler
over
the LORD’s
people
Israel.
I will celebrate
before
the LORD,
and I will humiliate
and humble
myself
even more
than this.
Yet I will be honored
by
the maidservants
of whom
you have spoken.”