2 Samuel 6
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Samuel 6
NJB (MT versing) Peril in Moving the Ark The Ark Brought to Jerusalem The Bringing of the Ark to Jerusalem The Covenant Box Is Brought to Jerusalem The Ark in Jerusalem 6:1-5 6:1-5 6:1-5 6:1-5 6:1-8 6:6-11 6:6-11 6:6-11 6:6-8 The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem 6:9-11 6:9-11 6:12-15 6:12-15 6:12-15 6:12-15 6:12-19 6:16 6:16-19 6:16 6:16-19 6:17-19 6:17-19 6:20-23 6:20-23 6:20-23 6:20 6:20-23 6:21-22 6:23 Etc.
2 Samuel 6:1-5
6:1 "all the chosen men" This was an especially chosen group of warriors (cf. 1 Sam. 26:2). 6:2 NASB, NKJV, NRSV "Baale-judah" "Baalah in Judah" "Baalah of Judah "Baalath-judah" "Baalim of Judah" "rulers of Judah" "men of Judah" The JPSOA footnote says, "identical with Baalah, another name for Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark had been kept (cf. 1 Sa. 6:21; 1 Chr. 13:6)." Kiriath-jearim was also called "Kiriath-baal" (cf. Josh. 15:9,60; 18:14). Baalah is a FEMININE form and may have been a Canaanite name for Asherah, Astarte, Anath. It is possible because of 1 Sam. 6:21, that "Baal" (see NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 422-428) referred to YHWH's ark being in Kiriath-jearim. The word "baal" means "owner," "master," "lord." Originally it did not denote the male Canaanite fertility god and could be used of YHWH. ▣ "the ark" Notice how this sacred covenant box is named and characterized. of God (the Elohim, vv. 3,4,6,7; of YHWH, v. 9) called by the Name of YHWH of hosts who enthroned above the cherubim Notice how "the Name" is emphasized (cf. Deut. 28:10; 1 Kgs. 8:43) capitalized in NASB called "the very name of YHWH of Hosts" This awe and respect due to God's name is seen in the Ten Commandments, Exodus. 20:7; Lev. 19:12; 24:16. SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. and D. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord OF HOSTS SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: CHERUBIM 6:3 "they placed it on a new cart" This is exactly what the Philistines did when they returned the captured ark (cf. 1 Sam. 6:7), but the Law of Moses demanded it be carried by Levites (cf. Num. 4:15; Deut. 10:8; 31:9,25,26; 1 Chr. 15:2). Disobedience always caused problems (i.e., Uzzah's death, cf. 2 Sam. 6:6-8). ▣ "from the house of Abinadab" This is recorded in 1 Sam. 7:1-2. 6:5 "all kinds of instruments" See notes at Psalm 150 online. Israelites were a musical people! JPSOA footnote thinks this is a corrupt text and prefers the parallel in 1 Chr. 13:8, "with all their might and with songs" (i.e., LXX, DSS have this reading here).
2 Samuel 6:6-11
6:6 "the threshing floor" Grain was placed in piles on hard grounded hills. Animals pulling heavy sleds were dragged over the grain to loosen the husk from the kernel. Then men with wooden forks lifted the grain into the air so that the wind would blow away the husks while the heavier grains fell back to earth. Apparently the oxen veered aside to eat the grains and the new cart almost fell over. 6:7 No one but Levites could touch (or for that matter, transport) the holy ark of the covenant (cf. Deut. 10:8). Remember that Deity is described in anthropomorphic language (i.e., anger); the only language humans understand. SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE DEITY ▣ NASB, TEV "his irreverence" "his error" "this crime" REV "his imprudent action" JPSOA, Targums "his indiscretion" —omit— "he put forth his hand" The MT has the NOUN (BDB 1016), which has an uncertain meaning. "error" comes from an Aramaic root the Peshitta's translation comes from the parallel in 1 Chr. 13:10 "indiscretion" comes from the Aramaic Targums "careless" from Akkadian root (KB 1994, NET) The UBS Text Project, p. 221, supports the MT with a "B" rating, against (NRSV, Peshitta). 6:8 "the Lord's outburst" "the Lord's outbreak" "the Lord had burst forth with an outburst" "YHWH's having broken out" "the Lord had inflicted a breach" "the Lord breached a breach" "the Lord had stricken" The MT has a VERB and NOUN from the same root. VERB ‒ BDB 829 I, KB 971, Qal PERFECT NOUN ‒ BDB 829 The LXX comes close to the literal phrase. BDB 829 I, #6, has "break out of YHWH in sudden outburst of divine judgment." Some examples: Exod. 19:22,24 ‒ warning of judgment on Mt. Sinai 1 Chr. 14:11 ‒ God breaking out on David's enemies Ps. 60:3 ‒ defeat of Israel's army for sin Ps. 106:29 ‒ judgment because of Israel's sin at Baal-Peor, Num. 25:3 ▣ "Perez-uzzah" This is a play on the VERB "break out" (see above). It literally means "the break-through of Uzzah." 6:9 "David was afraid of the Lord that day" What a sad statement. The God who had brought David such peace, power, and was constantly with him, was now an object of fear. Fear, not reverence, brings emotional and physical separation. David was truly human. His fear is overcome in this context by the divine prosperity of Obed-edom (vv. 11,12). 6:10 "Obed-edom the Gittite" This is probably the Levite mentioned in 1 Chr. 15:18,21, a descendant of Merarite. He is called a "Gittite" because he was from Gath (cf. Josh. 21:25).
2 Samuel 6:12-15
6:13 David moves the ark by bearers (presumably Levites, cf. 1 Chr. 15:2). In addition he sacrificed along the way (again presumably by priests). The word "paces" (BDB 857) may refer metaphorically to specific stations along the way, not every six steps. 6:14 NASB, NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB "dancing" "whirled" "struck upon tuned instruments" "sang praises" The MT has the VERB (BDB 502, KB 500, Pilpel PARTICIPLE; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 228) which implies a circular motion with the added phrase, "with all his might." It was a dancing outburst of joy! His fear was over! ▣ "wearing an ephod" This was worn by priests. The LXX translates it as "a distinguishing garment." See full note at 1 Chr. 15:27 online. SPECIAL TOPIC: LINEN SPECIAL TOPIC: EPHOD 6:15 "shouting" Some scholars think this was their typical war cry but others, singing (v. 5). ▣ "the trumpet" This was the left ram's horn called a shophar (BDB 1051; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 68-69). SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL
2 Samuel 6:16
6:16 "leaping" This is a rare VERB (BDB 808 II, KB 921, Piel PARTICIPLE) which denoted agility and here, excited dancing. ▣ "she despised him in her heart" One wonders how the love she once expressed to David (cf. 1 Sam. 18:20,28; 19:11-17) had grown cold. Possibly it was her removal from her home with Paltiel (cf. 2 Sam. 3:13-16). This outburst of anger against David meant they would never have children (cf. v, 23). She became only a figurehead of Saul's family in David's harem.
2 Samuel 6:17-19
6:17 "the tent which David had pitched for it" This implies the tabernacle of the wilderness was no longer in existence. It was made of animal skin and fiber. It deteriorated over time. David made a new tent (cf. 1 Chr. 15:1). See full note online at 1 Chr. 15:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: TABERNACLE OF THE WILDERNESS ▣ "burnt offerings" Often sacrifices were offered in a series (cf. Leviticus 1-7). SPECIAL TOPIC: BURNT OFFERING ▣ "peace offerings" See SPECIAL TOPIC: PEACE OFFERING. 6:18 "he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts" This is exactly what Solomon later did at the dedication of the Temple (cf. 1 Kgs. 8:14-15). SPECIAL TOPIC: Lord OF HOSTS 6:19 "he distributed. . ." In this period worshipers were often given a food gift. Here cake of bread (BDB 319 CONSTRUCT BDB 530) cake of dates (BDB 80 and BDB 25) cake of raisins (BDB 84 and BDB 25) These were given to all who attended the event, men and women. It was possibly part of the Peace Offering concept of a communal meal eaten with YHWH. Eating together was a cultural event between friends! The very helpful series of translator helps from UBS, called Handbook of. . .," p. 744, gives a different possible translation for these worship gifts. loaves of bread cuts of meat (NKJV, NRSV, TEV, REB, Peshitta, Vulgate' Josephus, Antiq. 7.4.2, "with a portion of the sacrifice") some type of dessert For me this better fits the concept of a shared meal (i.e., Peace Offerings).