< 2 Samuel 6 >
1 Once again David called up all specially chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in total.
Again, David assembled all [the] chosen [men] of Israel, thirty thousand,
2 He went with all his men to Baalah in Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which belongs to the Lord Almighty who sits between the cherubim that are on the Ark.
And David arose, and went with all the people that [were] with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth [between] the cherubim.
3 They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, were directing the cart
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drove the new cart.
4 with the Ark of God on it, with Ahio walking in front of it.
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which [was] at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5 David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the Lord's presence, singing songs accompanied by zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.
And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 But when they came to the threshing floor of Nachon, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out to stop the Ark of God from falling.
And when they came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it: for the oxen shook [it].
7 The Lord was angry with Uzzah, and God struck him down right there for his disobedience, and he died beside the Ark of God.
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 David was angry because of the Lord's violent outburst against Uzzah. He called the place Perez-uzzah, which is still its name today.
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.
9 David became afraid of the Lord that day. “How can I ever bring back the Ark of God home to me?” he asked.
And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
10 Not wanting to bring the Ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David, he had it taken to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite.
So David would not remove the ark of the LORD to him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
11 The Ark of the Lord remained in Obed-edom's home for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom's whole household.
And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
12 King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went and had the Ark of God brought from Obed-edom's house to the City of David. There was a lot of celebration!
And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that [pertaineth] to him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.
13 After those carrying the Ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
And it was [so], that when they that bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 Wearing a priest's ephod, David danced as hard as he could before the Lord
And David danced before the LORD with all [his] might; and David [was] girded with a linen ephod.
15 as he and all the Israelites brought along the Ark of the Lord, with plenty of shouting and the sound of horns being blown.
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 As the Ark of the Lord was carried into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked down from a window. She watched King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she really loathed him.
And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought the Ark of the Lord and put it on its place inside the tent that David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and friendship offerings before the Lord.
And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the LORD.
18 Once he had finished offering the sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.
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.
19 He gave all the Israelites, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then he sent everyone home.
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.
20 When David got home to bless his family, Michal, Saul's daughter came out to meet him and said, “How distinguished the king of Israel made himself look today, taking off his robes so everyone's servant girls could see, just as somebody crude would expose himself!”
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!
21 David told Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his family when he named me ruler over the Lord's people Israel. I will continue to celebrate before the Lord,
And David said to Michal, [It was] before the LORD, who 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.
22 in fact I'm going to make myself even less distinguished, become even more humble. However, I will be respected by those servant girls you spoke about.”
And I shall yet be more vile than thus, and shall be base in my own sight: and by the maid-servants which thou hast spoken of, by them shall I be had in honor.
23 And Michal, Saul's daughter, never had any children.
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death.