2 Samuel 6

David Brings Up the Ark

1David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2David 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, the name of the LORD of Hosts who sits above the cherubim. 3They 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, sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart. 4They brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, with the ark of God, and Ahio walked before the ark. 5David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments of cypress wood, with lyres, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

Uzzah Dies beside the Ark

6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7Then the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him there because of the irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. 8David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah, and that place has been called Perez-Uzzah to this day. 9David was afraid of the LORD that day and said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?” 10So David was not willing to turn the ark of the LORD aside to himself into the city of David. Instead David turned it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.

The Ark Enters the City of David

12It was told to King David, saying, “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 up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom into the city of David with rejoicing. 13And it happened that when those carrying the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. 14David was dancing with all his strength before the LORD, and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of a ram’s horn.

Michal Despises David

16As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

David Blesses the People

17They brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place among the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. 18When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. 19He distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both man and woman, to each a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went, each to his house.

David and Michal Confront One Another

20David returned to bless his household. Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How honored the king of Israel made himself today, exposing himself today in the eyes of his servants’ slave women, as one of the empty men shamelessly exposes himself!” 21David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me over your father and over all his house to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. 22I will make myself even more lightly esteemed than this, and I will be low in my own eyes. But with the slave women of whom you spoke, with them I will be honored.” 23Michal daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.