2 SamuelCapítulo 6

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David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in all.

Then David and all the people with him set out from Baale-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 above the cherubim.

They set the ark of God on a new cart and carried it from the house of Abinadab on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart,

bringing it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on the hill, and Ahio walked ahead of the ark.

David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments of cypress wood—with lyres, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen had stumbled.

The anger of the LORD blazed against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God.

David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah, so he named that place Perez-uzzah, and it is called so to this day.

David was afraid of the LORD that day, and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?"

So David was unwilling to bring the ark of the LORD up to himself in the City of David; instead he turned it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.

King David was told, "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 brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

When those carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a linen ephod.

So David and the whole house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the ram's horn.

As the ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked down through the window, and when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

They brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent David had pitched for it, and David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD.

When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

He distributed to all the people, to the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people went home.

When David returned to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, exposing himself before the eyes of his servants' slave girls as one of the vulgar might shamelessly expose himself!"

David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house and appointed me ruler over the LORD's people, over Israel—before the LORD I will celebrate.

I will make myself even more contemptible than this, and I will be humbled in my own eyes. But by the slave girls you spoke of, by them I will be held in honor."

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

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Resumen2

Capítulo 6

Main Theme: David brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem after a failed first attempt.

Content: David gathers 30,000 men to bring God's ark from Baale-Judah. The first attempt ends tragically when Uzzah dies after touching the ark, and David leaves the ark at Obed-Edom's house for three months. When God blesses Obed-Edom's household, David brings the ark to Jerusalem with dancing, sacrifices, and celebration. David's wife Michal despises his devoted dancing and remains childless for the rest of her life.

Key Words/Images:

Ark of the Covenant: God's holy throne, symbolizing His presence among the people.
Uzzah's Death: A warning about God's holiness and the importance of approaching Him in the right way.
David's Dance: An expression of wholehearted worship and joy over God's presence.
Michal's Contempt: The contrast between genuine worship and pride, with serious consequences.

Contexto histórico

Historical and Cultural Context for 2 Samuel 6

People

Uzzah and Ahio were sons of Abinadab, in whose house the ark of the covenant had been kept for many years (possibly about 20 years or more) since it was returned by the Philistines (1 Sam 7:1-2). Their familiar acquaintance with the ark may have led to a casual attitude toward its holiness. Uzzah’s name means "strength," making his death while attempting to steady the ark a tragic irony.

Obed-Edom is called a "Gittite," which could mean either that he was from the Philistine city of Gath, or that he belonged to a Levitical clan associated with Gath-Rimmon (Josh 21:24). 1 Chronicles 15:18-21 identifies him as a Levite and gatekeeper, which would explain why the ark could be safely kept in his house. His three months of blessing demonstrated that the ark was not dangerous in itself but required proper reverence.

Michal, Saul’s daughter and David’s first wife, had a complicated history with David. She had loved him (1 Sam 18:20), saved his life (1 Sam 19:12-17), but was later given to another man by Saul (1 Sam 25:44). David demanded her return as part of political negotiations (2 Sam 3:13-16). Her contempt for David in this chapter may reflect loyalty to her father’s house.

Places

Baale-judah (v. 2), also called Kiriath-jearim, was located about 13–15 km west of Jerusalem on the border between Judah and Benjamin. The ark had been kept there since it was returned by the Philistines (1 Sam 6:21-7:2). The name "Baale" suggests that the place may previously have been associated with Baal worship before Israelite settlement.

The threshing floor of Nacon (v. 6), where Uzzah died, has an uncertain location. Threshing floors were often placed on high ground where wind could separate grain from chaff. The parallel text in 1 Chronicles 13:9 calls the place "the threshing floor of Kidon." The site was named "Perez-uzzah" ("Uzzah’s breach") as a memorial.

The City of David was the captured Jebusite fortress on Mount Zion (2 Sam 5:7). By bringing the ark there, David established Jerusalem as both a political and religious center, a strategic move that united the tribes around a new, neutral place with no connection to either Judah or Benjamin.

Events and Customs

Transporting the ark on a cart (v. 3) followed Philistine practice (1 Sam 6:7-8) but broke with the Mosaic law’s instruction that the ark be carried by Levites using poles (Num 7:9; Exod 25:14). This error was corrected during the second attempt, when bearers ("נֹשְׂאֵי", noś'e) transported the ark (v. 13). 1 Chronicles 15:13-15 records that David explicitly acknowledged this mistake.

David’s dancing is described with several Hebrew verbs: "מְשַׂחֲקִים" (mesaḥaqim, "playing/dancing") in v. 5, and "מְפַזֵּז" (mefazzez) and "מְכַרְכֵּר" (mekharker) in v. 16, indicating energetic leaping and circular dancing. Such ecstatic dancing was known in ancient Near Eastern worship and expressed total devotion. That the king himself danced before the ark was a radical act in which David set aside his royal dignity to honor God.

Offering sacrifices every six steps (v. 13) was extraordinary. Some interpret this as one sacrifice at the beginning, while the literal reading suggests repeated offerings. This caution reflected the lesson from Uzzah’s death—that one must approach the holy with extreme reverence.

Distributing food (v. 19)—loaves of bread, portions of meat, and raisin cakes—followed the pattern for public celebrations where the king demonstrated generosity toward the people. Such communal meals strengthened the bond between ruler and people and marked the day as a holy festival.

Key Terms

Linen ephod (אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד, 'efod bad) was a simple white linen garment worn by priests during service (1 Sam 2:18; 22:18). That David wore this during the procession shows that he functioned in a priestly role, which was acceptable for kings in certain contexts but which Michal considered unworthy of a king.

"The Lord, the God of hosts, who sits enthroned above the cherubim" (v. 2) is one of the most expanded titles for God in the Old Testament. "צְבָאוֹת" (tsevaot, "hosts") refers to heavenly armies, while "יֹשֵׁ֥ב הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים" ("enthroned above the cherubim") describes God’s invisible throne above the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant, where golden cherubim were shaped over the atonement cover (Exod 25:18-22).

"הַשַּׁל" (hashshal, v. 7) is a rare word translated variously as "presumption," "carelessness," or "negligence." Its meaning is debated, but the context suggests that Uzzah’s action, though well-intentioned, represented an overstepping of boundaries toward the holy.

Personas8

David13 Abinadab (son of Jesse, brother of David)2 Obed-Edom3 Michal4 Ahjo2 Uzzah4 Saul3 Jacob1

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Palabras clave7

Ark — A holy object containing the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments, symbolizing God's presence and covenant with Israel.
Uzzah — A man from the tribe of Judah who died when he touched the Ark during its transport to Jerusalem.
David — The second king of Israel, known for his skill as a leader and warrior, as well as for composing many psalms.
Jerusalem — The capital city of ancient Israel and David's city, an important religious and political center for the Jews.
Michal — Daughter of King Saul and David's first wife, who criticized David for his dancing before the Ark.
Dance — A physical form of expression that David used to honor and rejoice in God's presence and blessings.
Blessing — A divine gift or favor, often associated with protection, prosperity, and success.