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| 1 And David gathered again every chosen one 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 and David riseth and goeth, and all the people who [are] with him, from Baale-Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God, whose name hath been called the name of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs upon it. |
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 And they cause the ark of God to ride on a new cart, and lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which [is] in the height, and Uzzah and Ahio sons of Abinadab are leading the new cart; |
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 and they lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which [is] in the height, with the ark of God, and Ahio is going before the ark, |
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| 5 and David and all the house of Israel are playing before Jehovah, with all kinds of [instruments] of fir-wood, even with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cornets, and with cymbals. |
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| 6 And they come unto the threshing-floor of Nachon, and Uzzah putteth forth [his hand] unto the ark of God, and layeth hold on it, for they released the oxen; |
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| 7 and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Uzzah, and God smiteth him there for the error, and he dieth 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 is displeasing to David, because that Jehovah hath broken forth a breach upon Uzzah, and [one] calleth that place Perez-Uzzah, unto 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 feareth Jehovah on that day, and saith, 'How doth the ark of Jehovah come in unto me ' |
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 And David hath not been willing to turn aside unto himself the ark of Jehovah, to the city of David, and David turneth it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, |
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| 11 and the ark of Jehovah doth inhabit the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and Jehovah blesseth Obed-Edom and all his house. |
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 is declared to king David, saying, 'Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he hath, because of the ark of God;' and David goeth and bringeth up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with joy. |
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 it cometh to pass, when those bearing the ark of Jehovah have stepped six steps, that he sacrificeth an ox and a fatling. |
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 is dancing with all strength before Jehovah, and David is girded with a linen ephod, |
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 and David and all the house of Israel are bringing up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the voice of a trumpet, |
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 and it hath come to pass, the ark of Jehovah hath come in to the city of David, and Michal daughter of Saul, hath looked through the window, and seeth king David moving and dancing before Jehovah, and despiseth him in her heart. |
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| 17 And they bring in the ark of Jehovah, and set it up in its place, in the midst of the tent which David hath spread out for it, and David causeth to ascend burnt-offerings before Jehovah, and peace-offerings. |
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| 18 And David finisheth from causing to ascend the burnt-offering, and the peace-offerings, and blesseth the people in the name of Jehovah of Hosts, |
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| 19 and he apportioneth to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, from man even unto woman, to each, one cake of bread, and one eshpar, and one ashisha, and all the people go, each to his house. |
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| 20 And David turneth back to bless his house, and Michal daughter of Saul goeth out to meet David, and saith, 'How honourable to-day was the king of Israel, who was uncovered to-day before the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain ones is openly uncovered!' |
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| 21 And David saith unto Michal, ' Before Jehovah, who fixed on me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me leader over the people of Jehovah, and over Israel, yea, I played before Jehovah; |
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| 22 and I have been more vile than this, and have been low in mine eyes, and with the handmaids whom thou hast spoken of, with them I am honoured.' |
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| 23 As to Michal daughter of Saul, she had no child till the day of her death. |
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