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| 1 And David, once more, gathered together all the choice young men in Israel, thirty thousand. |
Gathered together – To revive the religious sentiments of the people. R3252:4
30,000 – It is wiser, better every way, that all the Lord's people participate in any prominent matter connected with the Lord's service, according to ability. R3252:4
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| 2 Then David, and all the people that were with him, arose and went beyond Baale Judah,–to bring up from thence, the ark of God, the name whereof is called by the name of Yahweh of hosts, who inhabiteth the cherubim thereupon. |
Baale of Judah – Or Kirjath-jearim (margin). The Ark was at Kirjath-jearim a total of 70 years. R3252:3, R5679:3, R2003:1
To bring up – David's spiritual nature began to assert itself in respect to the government of Israel. R5679:3
Between the cherubims – Between love and power and above a foundation of justice, represented by the Mercy Seat. R3252:3; T123-125; R5680:1
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| 3 So they carried the ark of God in a new waggon, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gibeah,–and, Uzza and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were driving the new waggon. |
Upon a new cart – After the example of the Philistines. R2003:1
Instead of upon the shoulders of the Levites as instructed by the Lord. R3252:6, R2003:1
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| 4 So they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in Gibeah, with the ark of God,–and, Ahio, was going before the ark. |
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| 5 And, David and all the house of Israel, were dancing for joy before Yahweh, with all boldness and with songs,–and with lyres, and with harps, and with timbrels, and with sistrums, and with cymbals. |
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| 6 And, when they came as far as the threshing-floor of Nachon, Uzzah thrust forth his hand unto the ark of God, and took hold of it, for the oxen were restive. |
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| 7 Then was kindled the anger of Yahweh, against Uzzah, and God smote him there, for the error,–so that he died there, by the ark of God. |
Against Uzzah – For his loss of respect of the Ark as representative of God and for the bad example in the sight of all Israel. R3252:6
God smote him – God had tolerated the ignorance of the Philistines, but he slew Uzzah as a reminder of his displeasure with Israel for their carelessness in complying with the requirements of the Law. R2003:2
Illustrating the importance of types being kept in every minutiae. T12
For his error – In handling the holy things of the divine Word and service of the truth. Spiritual Israelites are not at liberty to do as they please, merely assuring themselves that their motives are good. R4260:1
There he died – No injury was done to Uzzah's eternal future. R3253:2
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| 8 And it was a sadness unto David, for that Yahweh had broken in with a breach against Uzzah,–therefore called he that place, Perez-uzzah [as it is called] until this day. |
Was displeased – With his former determination to bring the Ark to Jerusalem; and that through lack of care matters had gone astray. R3252:5
Divine providence gave him a great lesson of reverence for the Almighty and carefulness in respect to his laws. R5679:3,5
A breach upon Uzzah – This was no injustice, because he was already under the death sentence anyway. F174
It was necessary because everything connected with the Tabernacle (Ark) typified something greater and more important to come afterward. T12
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| 9 And David was afraid of Yahweh, on that day,–and said, How can the ark of Yahweh come unto me?
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David was afraid – The king and the people understood the smiting of Uzzah as a rebuke for their disobedience, their lack of proper reverence for the symbol of God's presence. R2003:2
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| 10 So David would not remove unto him the ark of Yahweh, unto the city of David,–but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom, the Gittite. |
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| 11 And the ark of Yahweh abode in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, three months,–and Yahweh blessed Obed-edom, and all his household. |
Blessed Obed-edom – The Ark was in the house of Abinadab 70 years, but without bringing him any special blessing. Similarly, the Bible in some families brings no blessings from year to year; but in others it brings great blessings in a few short months because of greater reverence for the Lord and his Word. R3253:4
Obed-edom was a Levite who doubtless reverently received the Ark. R2003:2
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| 12 And it was told King David, saying, Yahweh hath blessed the household of Obed-edom, and all that he hath, because of the ark of God. David therefore went and brought up the ark of God, out of the house of Obed-edom, unto the city of David, with rejoicing. |
Brought up the ark – This time it was reverently borne according to divine directions. (See 1 Chron. 15:1, 2, 13-15, 28) R2003:4
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| 13 And so it was that, when they who bare the ark of Yahweh had stepped forward six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a heifer. |
Bare the ark – By the divinely directed method. It is not for us to be inventive in respect to divine services, but rather to be students of the divine will. R5680:3
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| 14 And, David, was dancing with all boldness before Yahweh,–David, being girt with an ephod of linen. |
David danced – An expressive symbol of joy. R2003:5
The 24th Psalm is supposed to have been sung as marching accompaniment on this occasion. R4260:4
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| 15 So, David and all the house of Israel, were bringing up the ark of Yahweh,–with triumphant shoutings, and with the sound of a horn. |
Brought up – King David composed Psalm 24 for this very occasion. R5680:4
The ark – The Ark represented Christ. The bringing of it into the city corresponds in a measure to our receiving of Christ. R5680:5
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| 16 Now it so came about that, when the ark of Yahweh entered the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter, looked out through the window, and saw King David, leaping and dancing before Yahweh, and she despised him, in her heart. |
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| 17 So they brought in the ark of Yahweh, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent which David had stretched out for it,–and David caused to go up ascending-sacrifices before Yahweh, and peace-offerings. |
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| 18 And, when David had finished offering up the ascending-sacrifice and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of hosts. |
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| 19 And he apportioned to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and to women–to every one, a loaf of bread, and a sweet drink, and a raisin-cake,–and all the people went their way, every one unto his own house; |
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| 20 and David returned, to bless his household. Then came forth Michal Saul's daughter to meet David, and said–How honoured, today, was the king of Israel in disrobing himself today, in the sight of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the low people, might disrobe himself? |
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| 21 And David said unto Michal, Before Yahweh, I will dance,–blessed, be Yahweh, who made choice of me above thy father, and above all his house, putting me in charge as leader over the people of Yahweh, over Israel,–therefore will I dance before Yahweh; |
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| 22 and will make myself, yet more, lightly esteemed that this, and become lowly in mine own eyes,–nevertheless, with the handmaids of whom thou hast spoken, with them, shall I be honoured. |
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| 23 Therefore, Michal Saul's daughter, had no child,–unto the day of her death. |
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