2 Samuel 6
Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 6
Spurgeon adds "This sacred hymn was probably written to be sung when the ark of the covenant was taken up from the house of Obed-edom, to remain within curtains upon the hill of Zion. The words are not unsuitable for the sacred dance of joy in which David led the way upon that joyful occasion. The eye of the psalmist looked, however, beyond the typical upgoing of the ark to the sublime ascension of the King of glory. We will call it The Song of the Ascension." Psalm 24:1-10 (Spurgeon) A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas And established it upon the rivers. 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face–even Jacob. Selah. 7 Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah. 2 Samuel 6:13 And so it was, that when the bearers of the Ark (aron) of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. BGT 2 Samuel 6:13 καὶ ἦσαν μετ᾽ αὐτῶν αἴροντες τὴν κιβωτὸν ἑπτὰ χοροὶ καὶ θῦμα μόσχος καὶ ἄρνα LXE 2 Samuel 6:13 And there were with him bearing the ark seven bands, and for a sacrifice a calf and lambs. KJV 2 Samuel 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. NET 2 Samuel 6:13 Those who carried the ark of the LORD took six steps and then David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. CSB 2 Samuel 6:13 When those carrying the ark of the LORD advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. ESV 2 Samuel 6:13 And when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal. NIV 2 Samuel 6:13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. NLT 2 Samuel 6:13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the LORD had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. when the: Nu 4:15 Nu 7:9 Jos 3:3 1Ch 15:2,15,24-26 ox: 1Ki 8:5 2Ch 5:6 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 15:2; 15; 24-26+ Then David said, “No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the LORD chose them to carry the ark of God and to minister to Him forever.”.....15:15 The sons of the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles thereon, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the LORD.....15:24-26 Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah and Eliezer, the priests, blew the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah also were gatekeepers for the ark. 25 So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy. 26 Because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. And so it was, that when the bearers of the Ark (aron) of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling - The bearers of the Ark are now without doubt Levites from the appropriate tribe, the Kohathites! Paul Apple has an interesting thought of 6 paces - This was the test distance to see whether God would strike them dead again. There must have been great relief and thanksgiving to see that all was well Winter: “Why did they sacrifice after only going six steps? The men carrying the ark were just starting their journey. David evidently ordered the company to stop because they had made a successful beginning. On the first attempt they had met with tragedy. But now they were moving successfully. No doubt they stopped to give thanks to God for his successful beginning of the journey.” Gehrke points out: “Even then his first steps are taken with utmost delicacy to avoid a new accident. Porters take the place of the oxen and cart. The first hazardous steps taken to disturb area breathlessly observed to see if the Lord now approves, and as soon as the initial process of disturbing the ark has been affected without calamity, a sacrifice is offered to the Lord. (Commentary on 1-2 Samuel - online) Redpath points out: “This chapter is like a mirror, and I trust you have been looking into it today. If Jesus comes soon, as we hope and believe, will he find you among these people with new carts who are putting their hands to the things of God but keeping their hearts back? Or will you be found with your heart under the burden enjoying his presence?” (Pdf - The Making of a Man of God Life of David) 2 Samuel 6:14 And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. BGT 2 Samuel 6:14 καὶ Δαυιδ ἀνεκρούετο ἐν ὀργάνοις ἡρμοσμένοις ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ὁ Δαυιδ ἐνδεδυκὼς στολὴν ἔξαλλον LXE 2 Samuel 6:14 And David sounded with well-tuned instruments before the Lord, and David was clothed with a fine long robe. KJV 2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. NET 2 Samuel 6:14 Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength before the LORD. CSB 2 Samuel 6:14 David was dancing with all his might before the LORD wearing a linen ephod. ESV 2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. NIV 2 Samuel 6:14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, NLT 2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. David was dancing: Ex 15:20 Jdg 11:34 21:21 Ps 30:11 149:3 150:4 Lu 15:25 with all his: De 6:5 Ec 9:10 Col 3:23 David was wearing a linen ephod: 1Sa 2:18,28 22:18 1Ch 15:27 Related Passages: Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. 1 Chronicles 15:27 Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore an ephod of linen. DAVID'S WORSHIP BEFORE THE LORD And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod - Clearly David is no longer afraid of Yahweh. David had taken off his royal robe and was clothed with the ephod, but he was not naked! THOUGHT - Everything we do (good and bad) is before the LORD, for Proverbs 15:3 reminds us "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good." David an imperfect man, but a man God says was one after His heart, was worshiping before the LORD. Worship should not be restricted to Sunday Morning or just to the time we are singing praises to His Name, but should be our continual mindset. Indeed, is not all of our life, day in, day out, to be as worship before the LORD. This next week let this mindset frequently enter your heart and watch what a difference it makes in all the circumstances of your life. Indeed, worship before the LORD is the epitome of Vertical Vision which can mightily empower Horizontal Living for our good and His glory. Great Father in Heaven we ask you to bestow on all who read these words a heart of continual worship, enabled by Your Spirit and Word and made possible through our Great High Priest, Christ Jesus. Amen. Play Michael W Smith's version Heart of Worship and let it be your song all week long. David
2 Samuel 6
Spurgeon - No doubt, there are particularly nice and dainty people who will censure God’s chosen if they live wholly to his praise, and they will call them eccentric, old-fashioned, obstinate, absurd, and I don’t know what besides. From the window of their superiority they look down upon us. Youngblood - Perhaps still smarting from her earlier separation from her former husband Paltiel (cf. 2Sa 3:13–16), Michal looks at her present husband, David, with something less than the love she at one time had for him (see 1 Sa 18:20).....she reacts with disgust. Once Michal, Saul’s daughter, had helped David escape through a window (1Sa 19:12); now, peering at him through a window, she despises him “in her heart” (v. 16). (Ibid) Despised (0959) bazah is from a root meaning to accord little worth to something) means to disdain or to hold in contempt. The use of bazah shows that disobedience to the Lord is based on "contempt, despising" of him. Bazah is used in a number of places to mean “despise” in the sense of treating someone or something as totally insignificant or worthless. Bazah means to raise the head loftily and disdainfully, to look down one's nose at something (so to speak)! The idea is that one undervalues something or someone which implies contempt for that thing or person (in this case God's Name in Mal 1:6 and here His table/altar, the place He is to be worshipped, revered, and adored! Woe!) Lest we be too hard on these ancient Israelites, let us "moderns" consider what we do EVERY TIME we willfully sin against God! Are you as convicted as I am! In fact Larry Richards writes that "Disobedience and other sins are portrayed in the OT as nothing less than evidences that we despise God. When we disobey, we show that we place little value on the Lord." Bazah is the same word used by the prophet Nathan uttering God's words when confronting his sin with Bathsheba issuing a blistering prophecy "Why have you despised (bazah) the word of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised (bazah) Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ (2Sa 12:9-10). The Lord also condemns to insignificance those who despise what he chose: Esau for despising the birthright (Ge25:34), worthless fellows for despising Saul's election (1Sa10:27), Goliath for despising David's youth (1S 17:42), and Michal for despising David's religious enthusiasm (2Sa6:16). 2 Samuel 6:17 So they brought in the Ark (aron) of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. BGT 2 Samuel 6:17 καὶ φέρουσιν τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ κυρίου καὶ ἀνέθηκαν αὐτὴν εἰς τὸν τόπον αὐτῆς εἰς μέσον τῆς σκηνῆς ἧς ἔπηξεν αὐτῇ Δαυιδ καὶ ἀνήνεγκεν Δαυιδ ὁλοκαυτώματα ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ εἰρηνικάς LXE 2 Samuel 6:17 And they bring the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle which David pitched for it: and David offered whole-burnt-offerings before the Lord, and peace-offerings. KJV 2 Samuel 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. NET 2 Samuel 6:17 They brought the ark of the LORD and put it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before the LORD. CSB 2 Samuel 6:17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the LORD's presence. ESV 2 Samuel 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. NIV 2 Samuel 6:17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. NLT 2 Samuel 6:17 They brought the Ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. they brought: 1Ch 15:1 1Ch 6:1 2Ch 1:4 Ps 132:8 offered: 1Ki 8:5,62-65 2Ch 5:6 7:5-7 Ezr 6:16,17 Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 15:1 Now David built houses for himself in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. 2 Chronicles 1:4 However, David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. Psalm 132:8 Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength. ARK IN TENT STIMULATES DAVID TO MAKE OFFERINGS So they brought in the Ark (aron) of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched (Heb. stretched) for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD - This implies the tabernacle of the wilderness was no longer in use - perhaps it had deteriorated over the years, but this is a new tent. See BURNT OFFERING and PEACE OFFERING. Guzik "The burnt offerings spoke of consecration (ED: BECAUSE IN THIS OFFERING NOTHING WAS HELD BACK - IT WAS WHOLLY BURNT). The peace offerings spoke of fellowship. This was a day of great consecration and fellowship with God. It was also a great barbeque." Youngblood - Apparently at a somewhat later date, another tabernacle was constructed and installed at the high place in Gibeon (1 Ki 3:4; 1 Ch 16:39; 21:29; 2 Ch 1:3, 5, 13), about six miles northwest of Jerusalem (see comment on 2:12). Thus there were in effect two tabernacles: the one in Jerusalem serving as the repository for the ark (1 Ch 16:37), and the one in Gibeon housing the other tabernacle furnishings (1 Ch 16:39–40; cf. 1 Ki 1:39; 2:28–30; 3:4). Nowhere in the books of Samuel, Kings, or Chronicles is the ark associated with Gibeon or with a sanctuary there. (Ibid) 2 Samuel 6:18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offering, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. BGT 2 Samuel 6:18 καὶ συνετέλεσεν Δαυιδ συναναφέρων τὰς ὁλοκαυτώσεις καὶ τὰς εἰρηνικὰς καὶ εὐλόγησεν τὸν λαὸν ἐν ὀνόματι κυρίου τῶν δυνάμεων LXE 2 Samuel 6:18 And David made an end of offering the whole-burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, and blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts. KJV 2 Samuel 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. NET 2 Samuel 6:18 When David finished offering the burnt sacrifices and peace offerings, he pronounced a blessing over the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. CSB 2 Samuel 6:18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of Hosts. ESV 2 Samuel 6:18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts NIV 2 Samuel 6:18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. NLT 2 Samuel 6:18 When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies. And when David had finished offering: 1Ki 8:55 1Ch 16:2 2Ch 6:3 30:18,19,27 Ac 3:26 he blessed: Ge 14:19 Ex 39:43 Lev 9:22,23 Heb 7:1-7 DAVID BLESSES THE PEOPLE And when David had finished offering the burnt offering ('olah) and the peace offering (selem/shelem), he blessed (barak) the people in the name of the LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts - of armies) - David's blessing is not so much from him as it ultimately is from God for he blessed them IN the Name (All that He is, All His attributes) of the LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts of armies) His son Solomon did the same thing when the Temple was dedicated Then the king faced about and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 He said, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying, (1 Kgs. 8:14-15, also in 1 Ki 8:55–61) Burnt offering (05930) 'olah from 'alah = to ascend and thus the picture of going up in smoke) refers to a whole burnt offering (one which goes up in smoke), which was voluntary, was understood as a sacrificial gift to God, resulting in a pleasing aroma acceptable to Jehovah (Lev 1:9). The presenter laid hands on the sacrifice which many feel signifies they saw the animal sacrifice as their substitute. The blood was sprinkled on the altar (Lev 1:6) When this offering was properly carried out (including a right heart attitude not just a "going through the motions," [which was not pleasing to God - Jer 6:20, Jer 7:21, 23, 24, see David - Ps 51:16-17-note] not just an external "work," but an internal submission and obedience to Jehovah), they made atonement and were acceptable before Jehovah. The total burning indicated (or should have indicated) total consecration of the presenter's heart and soul and life to Jehovah. As noted a key feature of 'olah appears to be that among the Israelite sacrifices only 'olah is wholly burned, rather than partially burned and eaten by the worshipers and/or the priest. Thus, the whole animal is brought up to the altar and the whole is offered as a gift (minha) in homage to Yahweh. Whole offering would be a better rendering in English to convey the theology. It is indeed burned, but the burning is essentially secondary to the giving of the whole creature to Yahweh. Burnt Offering - 'olah , "what ascends" in smoke to God, being wholly consumed to ashes. Part of every offering was burnt in the sacred fire, the symbol of God's presence; but this was wholly burnt, as a "whole burnt offering." (Fausset's Bible Dictionary) Peace offerings (08002) selem/shelem is a noun which means fellowship offerings, thanksgiving offerings and all uses (except Amos 5:22) are in the plural form (selamim). The root Hebrew word conveys the idea of completion and fulfillment, of entering into a state of wholeness and unity, a restored relationship. The peace offerings were voluntary offerings (like burnt and grain offerings) given to God with thanks and praise. Carr - Current understanding of the meaning of šelem follows three main lines of thought. First, šelem symbolizes the gift of shalom, i.e. the blessing of wholeness, prosperity, and the status of being at peace with God. This involves more than forgiveness of sin, in that fullness of life, prosperity, and peace with men is the expected result of shalom status. A second alternative is identified by de Vaux as “communion sacrifice,” i.e. one in which there is a sharing of the sacrificial animal and the resultant fellowship around a meal. The šĕlāmîm, then, were social occasions “before” (Hebrew = panim = face) the Lord never “with” the Lord (Dt 12:7, 18; 14:23, 26; 15:20). There is no sense of attaining mystical union with God through these sacrifices. Rather there is a sense of joyful sharing because of God’s presence. Note too, that a quarter of the animal is shared with the priest (Lev 7:32).Thirdly, the fact that the šelem usually comes last in the lists of the offerings (though not in the description of Lev 1–5), has prompted some scholars to argue that this is a “concluding sacrifice.” This derives šelem from the rare Piel meaning “to complete.” If this sense is correct, the NT references to Christ our Peace (e.g. Eph 2:14) become more meaningful, as he is the final sacrifice for us (cf. Heb 9:27; Heb 10:12)." (See online TWOT) Bless (01288) barak is a verb which literally can mean to kneel (to go to one's knees - Camel in Ge 24:11, Solomon in 2Chr 6:13) as contrasted with standing position or even a bowing at the waist). And so barak can refer to an act of adoration sometimes on bended knee. To give divine blessings (Ge 1:22, 9:1-7) To esteem greatly or adore God for His blessings (Ge 24:48, Ps 103:1) To invoke blessings upon another (Ge 24:60, 27:4, 27) Barak includes the idea of to endue with power for success, prosperity, fecundity, longevity, etc. & is frequently contrasted with qalal meaning to curse (Dt 30:1,19). Frequently God blesses humans, meaning that they are given benefits (Ps. 115:12, etc). Occasionally God blesses things, such as a Sabbath (Ge 2:3), fields (Gen. 27:27), work (Dt. 28:12) or bread (Ex 23:25). Humans could also bless humans, as when fathers on their deathbed blessed their children (Ge 27).The Greek (Septuagint) usually translates barak with the verb eulogeo (from eú = good, well + logos = word. English = eulogize, eulogy = commendatory formal statement or set oration; high praise; to extol) means literally to a good word and so to speak a good word of , to speak well or favorably of someone (especially God - Lk 1:64, 1Cor 14:16) or some thing. To say something commendatory, to praise, to extol. 2 Samuel 6:19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed each to his house. BGT 2 Samuel 6:19 καὶ διεμέρισεν παντὶ τῷ λαῷ εἰς πᾶσαν τὴν δύναμιν τοῦ Ισραηλ ἀπὸ Δαν ἕως Βηρσαβεε ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς ἕως γυναικὸς ἑκάστῳ κολλυρίδα ἄρτου καὶ ἐσχαρίτην καὶ λάγανον ἀπὸ τηγάνου καὶ ἀπῆλθεν πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἕκαστος εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ LXE 2 Samuel 6:19 And he distributed to all the people, even to all the host of Israel from Dan to Bersabee, both men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a joint of meat, and a cake from the frying-pan: and all the people departed every one to his home. KJV 2 Samuel 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house. NET 2 Samuel 6:19 He then handed out to each member of the entire assembly of Israel, both men and women, a portion of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went home. CSB 2 Samuel 6:19 Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women. Then all the people left, each to his own home. ESV 2 Samuel 6:19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins to each one. Then all the people departed, each to his house. NIV 2 Samuel 6:19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. NLT 2 Samuel 6:19 Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes. he distributed to all the people: 1Ch 16:3 2Ch 30:24 35:7,8,12,13 Ne 8:10 Eze 45:17 Ac 20:35 Eph 4:8 Then all the people departed: 1Ki 8:66 2Ch 7:10 Related Passage: 1 Chronicles 16:43 Then all the people departed each to his house, and David returned to bless his household. DAVID'S JOY OVERFLOWS IN HIS GENEROSITY Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread and one of dates and one of raisins to each one In this period worshipers were often given a food gift and it reflects David's generous heart (cf Acts 13:22+!) Then all the people departed each to his house - Filled with the joy of the Lord from having been in His presence (the Ark), David was anticipating bestowing a blessing on his own household including his wives and many children 2 Samuel 6:20 But when 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 servants' maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!" BGT 2 Samuel 6:20 καὶ ἐπέστρεψεν Δαυιδ εὐλογῆσαι τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐξῆλθεν Μελχολ ἡ θυγάτηρ Σαουλ εἰς ἀπάντησιν Δαυιδ καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτὸν καὶ εἶπεν τί δεδόξασται σήμερον ὁ βασιλεὺς Ισραηλ ὃς ἀπεκαλύφθη σήμερον ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς παιδισκῶν τῶν δούλων ἑαυτοῦ καθὼς ἀποκαλύπτεται ἀποκαλυφθεὶς εἷς τῶν ὀρχουμένων LXE 2 Samuel 6:20 And David returned to bless his house. And Melchol the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and saluted him, and said, How was the king of Israel glorified to-day, who was to-day uncovered in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the dancers wantonly uncovers himself! KJV 2 Samuel 6:20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! NET 2 Samuel 6:20 When David went home to pronounce a blessing on his own house, Michal, Saul's daughter, came out to meet him. She said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself this day! He has exposed himself today before his servants' slave girls the way a vulgar fool might do!" CSB 2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his household, Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him. "How the king of Israel honored himself today!" she said. "He exposed himself today in the sight of the slave girls of his subjects like a vulgar person would expose himself." ESV 2 Samuel 6:20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, "How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" NIV 2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" NLT 2 Samuel 6:20 When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, "How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!" bless: 2Sa 6:18 Ge 18:19 Jos 24:15 1Ch 16:43 Ps 30:1 *title Ps 101:2 Michal: 2Sa 6:16 Ps 69:7-9 Mk 3:21 distinguished: Ne 4:3,4 Isa 53:2,3 Joh 13:6 1Co 4:10-13 Php 2:7,8 uncovered: 2Sa 6:14,16 1Sa 19:23,24 one of the foolish ones: Jdg 9:4 Job 30:8 MICHAL'S SHAMELESS SARCASTIC REBUKE But when David returned to bless his household - Note David was filled with joy, filled with the Spirit and desiring to bless his household (including Michal). 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 servants' maids as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself - NIV = "How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!" NLT - "How glorious the king of Israel looked today! He exposed himself to the servant girls like any indecent person might do!" The Hebrew word Michal used for uncovered can mean stark exposure or making oneself naked. She is exaggerating because he was not naked. Words that come to mind describing Michal's reaction include sarcastic, snappy, snarky, sneering, etc. David Guzik rightly remarks that "With biting sarcasm, Michal’s criticism could have ruined this whole day for David. He might have expected such an attack after such a remarkable day of victory. “Pirates look out for loaded vessels.” (Spurgeon) GotQuestions.org In a sarcastic rebuke of her husband, Michal accused him of “going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” (verse 20). Other translations render Michal’s complaint as David’s being “exposed” (CSB), “undressed” (ISV), and “shamelessly uncovered” (NKJV). Some of this wording makes it sound as if David danced naked, but the context is clear that he was wearing the ephod instead of the royal attire. TSK Note on uncovered - We are only to understand by this expression that David had divested himself of his royal robes, in order to appear humble before the Lord, by assimilating himself to the condition of one of the priests or Levites: for we find that he was "girded with a linen ephod;" and consequently no part of his body was exposed, having only put off his outer garments. The terms uncovered or naked frequently mean no more than this in Scripture. Don Anderson - You know, in some ways this might have been all the emotional strain that David needed to begin looking for someone else to love. He comes back from a day of victory to find a wife of his own heart and home despising him for his devotion. This happens a lot. Sometimes a person gives himself over completely to the will of God and after a time, they discover that they have left their partners behind, spiritually speaking. Often this may lead to the other person despising the one who is spiritual, not understanding the devotion to Christ. Believer's Study Bible - Michal showed herself to be the daughter of Saul, displaying on this occasion an irreverence which was typical of her father. Though she admired David in his role of king and warrior, she found this demonstration of unreserved joy before God quite unpalatable; therefore, she despised David (v. 16). Nor did she hesitate to inform David by means of acid sarcasm that he had made a fool of himself before all of his subjects. Her real concern was her recognition that David had at last stolen all the glory of the house of her father Saul (see 1 Sam.18:7). The conclusion of the matter was provided by David, who asserted his intention to humble himself still further before God, and who also noted that his subjects would honor him in the act (v. 22). For Michal, the result was childlessness. It is not certain whether this was a judgment of God upon her, or whether the statement implies that David never embraced Michal again in conjugal relations. Walter Kaiser - 2Sa 6:20 Was David’s Public Dancing Indecent? Was Michal correct in her estimate of David’s dancing in front of the ark of God as it was being brought to the tent David had prepared for it in his city? Or did she misinterpret David’s actions and purpose? If David had expected his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, to rejoice with him in the arrival of the ark of God in the capital city, he had a long wait coming. It is a real question if this ever was a happy marriage, for as Alter notes, “Until the final meeting between Michal and David, at no point is there any dialogue between them—an avoidance of verbal exchange particularly noticeable in the Bible, where such a large part of the burden of narration is taken up by dialogue. When the exchange finally comes, it is an explosion.”1 In one sentence Michal’s sarcastic words tell us what she thinks of David’s actions. To her way of thinking, the king had demeaned himself by divesting himself of his royal robes and dressing only in a “linen ephod” (2 Sam 6:14). With abandoned joy David danced before the Lord as the ark, properly borne this time on the shoulders of the Levites, went up to Jerusalem. Michal did not even deign to go out on the streets to be part of the festivities, but she watched from a window (2 Sam 6:16). Obviously, there was more bothering Michal than David’s undignified public jubilation. Her words about David “distinguish[ing] himself” are further punctuated by her disdainfully emphasizing the fact three times over that the king had “disrob[ed]” (the final clause of 2 Sam 6:20 literally reads, “as any vulgar fellow, disrobing, would disrobe”). Was David’s dress, or lack thereof, as scandalous as Michal made it out to be? Though some have thought that they detected overtones of orgiastic rituals in preparation for sacred marriage rites (in, for example, the presence of slave girls), such suggestions are overdrawn if we are to take seriously David’s rejoinders to Michal in 2 Samuel 6:21–22. David speaks of his election and appointment to the office of king by God. He does rub in the fact that God chose him over her father Saul. But as far as David was concerned, it was not an issue of public nudity or scandalous dress, but a matter of humiliating himself before the Lord. Furthermore, he danced not for the “slave girls,” but for the Lord. The “linen ephod” consisted probably of a linen robe used normally by the Levites. (Page 192 Hard Sayings of the Bible) 2 Samuel 6:21 So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel; therefore I will celebrate before the LORD. BGT 2 Samuel 6:21 καὶ εἶπεν Δαυιδ πρὸς Μελχολ ἐνώπιον κυρίου ὀρχήσομαι εὐλογητὸς κύριος ὃς ἐξελέξατό με ὑπὲρ τὸν πατέρα σου καὶ ὑπὲρ πάντα τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ τοῦ καταστῆσαί με εἰς ἡγούμενον ἐπὶ τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν Ισραηλ καὶ παίξομαι καὶ ὀρχήσομαι ἐνώπιον κυρίου LXE 2 Samuel 6:21 And David said to Melchol, I will dance before the Lord. Blessed be the Lord who chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to make me head over his people, even over Israel: therefore I will play, and dance before the Lord. KJV 2 Samuel 6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. NET 2 Samuel 6:21 David replied to Michal, "It was before the LORD! I was celebrating before the LORD, who chose me over your father and his entire family and appointed me as leader over the LORD's people Israel. CSB 2 Samuel 6:21 David replied to Michal, "I was dancing before the LORD who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the LORD's people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, ESV 2 Samuel 6:21 And David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD-- and I will celebrate before the LORD. NIV 2 Samuel 6:21 David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD's people Israel--I will celebrate before the LORD. NLT 2 Samuel 6:21 David retorted to Michal, "I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so I celebrate before the LORD. NRS 2 Samuel 6:21 David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me in place of your father and all his household, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD, that I have danced before the LORD. NJB 2 Samuel 6:21 David replied to Michal, 'I was dancing for Yahweh, not for them. As Yahweh lives, who chose me in preference to your father and his whole family to make me leader of Israel, Yahweh's people, I shall dance before Yahweh and NAB 2 Samuel 6:21 But David replied to Michal: "I was dancing before the LORD. As the LORD lives, who preferred me to your father and his whole family when he appointed me commander of the LORD'S people, Israel, not only will I make merry before the LORD, before the LORD 2Sa 6:14,16 1Co 10:31 the LORD, who chose me above your father: 1Sa 13:14 15:28 16:1,12 Ps 78:70-72 89:19,20 Ac 13:22 therefore I will celebrate before the LORD: 2Sa 6:5 1Ch 15:29 Related Passages: 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. DAVID JUSTIFIES HIS EFFUSIVE WORSHIP Effusive means expressing feelings of gratitude, pleasure, or approval in an unrestrained or heartfelt manner. So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD (4x - 2Sa 6:14, 16, 17), Who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel - NET - " David replied to Michal, "It was before the LORD! I was celebrating before the LORD" GWN paraphrase has "I didn't dance in front of the slave girls but in front of the LORD." David's reply clearly indicates he was not pleased! One can only imagine the thoughts that went through Michal's mind with David's retort (say something in answer to a remark or accusation, typically in a sharp, or wittily incisive manner.)! Note that he does not resort to name-calling or personal denigration of Michal, but simply replies with words of truth. “I did it for God, not for you.” -- David Guzik therefore I will celebrate before the LORD - NLT = "So I am willing to act like a fool in order to show my joy in the LORD." His point is that he was not celebrating before Michal. What he had done was no fake or sham but from his heart and was as he was directly in front of the LORD. Like Paul in 2Co 5:9 "therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him." David
2 Samuel 6
Spurgeon explains it this way "David would more and more abase himself before the Lord. He felt that whatever Michal’s opinion of him might be, it could not be more humbling than his own view of himself. Brother, if any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be.” but with the maids of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished - NET = "But with the slave girls whom you mentioned let me be distinguished!" The point of David's reply is that he was quite willing to be lowly esteemed and humbled, realizing that the Lord exalts those who are abased (1Sa 2:7-8; Mt. 23:12). Alan Redpath has an interesting thought - “Later in his life David was cursed by Shimei, but surely nothing hit him to the core like these words from the woman he had first married. Do you remember about Michal? She was Saul’s daughter, the king’s reward to a young warrior for killing a couple hundred Philistines. Before long, we will come to consider the great sin of David’s life. Could its root have been right here? Perhaps the thing that started him looking at another man’s wife. Was the bitterness of soul which began when he came back from a day of victory to find the woman of his own heart and house did not enter into joy of it but despised him for his devotion.” (Pdf - The Making of a Man of God Life of David) Alexander Whyte points out, “Never, surely, were man and wife more unequally yoked together than was David, the man after God’s own heart, with Michal, Saul’s daughter. What was David’s meat was Michal’s poison. What was sweeter than honey to David was gall and wormwood to Michal. The things that had become dearer and dearer to David’s heart every day - - those were the very things that drove Michal absolutely mad, furiously and ungovernably mad that day on which the ark of God was brought up to the city of David.” Had David not been so unequally yoked, Michal would have put on David’s shoulder that day an ephod that she had worked for that day with her own hands; and as she put it on him, she would have sung and said, ‘I will clothe her priests with salvation and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.’ had Michal done that day what any woman with any sense of decency left in her would have done, had she put on her royal garments and set out with David to the house of Obed-Edom, how differently for her and for David that day would have ended. David was no doubt a great provocation and a constant cross to Michal. They were never made for one another. It was impossible. They could never be happy as man and wife short of a miracle. David was all emotions, especially in divine things, whereas Michal was as proud and cold as if she had been a daughter of Lucifer, as indeed she was. There will be times when husband and wife do not see eye to eye - - times when their two hearts do not beat as one heart - - times of distaste and disapproval and difference of opinion and positive dislike. When Michal, who is written for out learning, must be called to every wife’s mind, Michal with her heart full of war and her mouth full of wicked words, and her whole afterlife full of remorse and misery for that evil day in her house in Jerusalem. Michal is a divine looking glass for all angry and outspoken wives. I will find among the poorest and most despised of God’s people that which my own married wife denies me at home, and who can tell how many husbands here are in David’s desolate case. Who can tell how many have to go out of their own homes to find the finest sympathy and the fullest utterance and the completest rest for their hearts. The wife see that her husband has not to go abroad to find his best friend, his most sympathetic and fellow-feeling friend, and above all, in his religion. 2 Samuel 6:23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. BGT 2 Samuel 6:23 καὶ τῇ Μελχολ θυγατρὶ Σαουλ οὐκ ἐγένετο παιδίον ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν αὐτήν LXE 2 Samuel 6:23 And Melchol the daughter of Saul had no child till the day of her death. KJV 2 Samuel 6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death. NET 2 Samuel 6:23 Now Michal, Saul's daughter, had no children to the day of her death. CSB 2 Samuel 6:23 And Saul's daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death. ESV 2 Samuel 6:23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. NIV 2 Samuel 6:23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death. NLT 2 Samuel 6:23 So Michal, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life. Michal: 1Sa 1:6-8 Isa 4:1 Ho 9:11 Lu 1:25 the day: 1Sa 15:35 Isa 22:14 Mt 1:25 MICHAL'S "REWARD" FOR HER REBUKE And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death - Childlessness was a disgrace in ancient Israel, and would be especially true given the fertility of so many of David's wives and concubines! One might even see Michal's act as "touching the LORD'S anointed!" She was childless either because of the LORD closing her womb or David not cohabiting with her after this episode. I tend to favor the former because the latter might suggest an element of bitterness or unforgiveness, which I do not think was in David's heart (albeit it may have been in Michal's heart). He had not been bitter or unforgiving to her father, but he also kept his distance from Saul because of his hatred toward him. As an aside, to despise (like Michal did David) is not far from hating! Gordon: We may also observe that this apparent judgment on Michal, for the sake of the ark, is in pointed contrast to the blessing, also for the sake of the ark, of Obed-edom and his household. (Youngblood says "In the case of Obed-Edom, the divine blessing would ultimately come in the form of numerous descendants -- “62 in all” in 1 Ch 26:8; cf. “For God had blessed Obed-Edom,” 1 Ch 26:5) The principle stands: there is often barrenness in the life and ministry of the overly critical. -- David Guzik GotQuestions.org What began as a “celebrity marriage” in Israel involved a series of dramatic events that ultimately led to David choosing multiple wives. Michal chose to speak against her husband and went through her life childless. Though David was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), his marriage relationships were problematic. Through David and Michal’s relationship, God worked despite their sinful nature, and the Lord likewise calls us today to live for Him despite past failures to pursue His direction for our lives. GotQuestions.org We can learn from Michal’s sad story what happens in a marriage when offenses go on for years, unaddressed. Michal’s youthful infatuation with Israel’s hero turned to bitterness when he treated her like property, tore her away from a loving husband, and apparently never made it right. Even someone like David, a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22), could also be selfish and cause pain in someone he should have loved. Although David was used greatly by God, he was also a sinful human being who made tragic mistakes. God placed stories like Michal’s in the Bible to remind us that heroes are also human and bitterness can destroy even a queen.