< Kings II 6 >

1 And David again gathered all the young men of Israel, about seventy thousand.
David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And David arose, and went, he and all the people that were with him, and some of the rulers of Juda, on an expedition [to a distant place], to bring back thence the ark of God, on which the name of the Lord of Host who dwells between the cherubs upon it is called.
David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah, to bring up from there God’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of the LORD of Hosts who sits above the cherubim.
3 And they put the ark of the Lord on a new waggon, and took it out of the house of Aminadab who lived on the hill, and Oza and his brethren the sons of Aminadab drove the waggon with the ark.
They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4 And his brethren went before the ark.
They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.
5 And David and the children of Israel [were] playing before the Lord on well-tuned instruments mightily, and with songs, and with harps, and with lutes, and with drums, and with cymbals, and with pipes.
David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.
6 And they come as far as the threshing floor of Nachor: and Oza reached forth his hand to the ark of God to keep it steady, and took hold of it; for the ox shook it out of its place.
When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for God’s ark and took hold of it, for the cattle stumbled.
7 And the Lord was very angry with Oza; and God struck him there: and he died there by the ark of the Lord before God.
The LORD’s anger burnt against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.
8 And David was dispirited because the Lord made a breach upon Oza; and that place was called the breach of Oza until this day.
David was displeased because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah to this day.
9 And David feared the Lord in that day, saying, How shall the ark of the Lord come in to me?
David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How could the LORD’s ark come to me?”
10 And David would not bring in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to himself into the city of David: and David turned it aside into the house of Abeddara the Gethite.
So David would not move the LORD’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.
11 And the ark of the Lord lodged in the house of Abeddara the Gethite three months, and the Lord blessed all the house of Abeddara, and all his possessions.
The LORD’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.
12 And it was reported to king David, saying, The Lord has blessed the house of Abeddara, and all that he has, because of the ark of the Lord. And David went, and brought up the Ark of the Lord from the house of Abeddara to the city of David with gladness.
King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.
13 And there were with him bearing the ark seven bands, and for a sacrifice a calf and lambs.
When those who bore the LORD’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
14 And David sounded with well-tuned instruments before the Lord, and David [was] clothed with a fine long robe.
David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
15 And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a trumpet.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the LORD’s ark with shouting and with the sound of the shofar.
16 And it came to pass as the ark arrived at the city of David, that Melchol the daughter of Saul looked through the window, and saw king David dancing and playing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
As the LORD’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
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.
They brought in the LORD’s ark, and set it in its place in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
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.
When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts.
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.
He gave to all the people, even amongst the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house.
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 today, who was today uncovered in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the dancers wantonly uncovers himself!
Then David returned to bless his household. Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious the king of Israel was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of his servants’ maids, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21 And David said to Melchol, I will dance before the Lord. Blessed [be] the Lord who chose me before your 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.
David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will celebrate before the LORD.
22 And I will again uncover myself thus, and I will be vile in your eyes, and with the maidservants by whom you said that I was not had in honour.
I will be yet more undignified than this, and will be worthless in my own sight. But the maids of whom you have spoken will honour me.”
23 And Melchol the daughter of Saul had no child till the day of her death.
Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

< Kings II 6 >