< 2 Samuel 6 >

1 And David, once more, gathered together all the choice young men in Israel, thirty thousand.
And David again gathered all the young men of Israel, about seventy thousand.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And his brethren went before the ark.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And David was dispirited because the Lord made a breach upon Oza; and that place was called the breach of Oza until this day.
9 And David was afraid of Yahweh, on that day, —and said, How can the ark of Yahweh come unto me?
And David feared the Lord in that day, saying, How shall the ark of the Lord come in to me?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And there were with him bearing the ark seven bands, and for a sacrifice a calf and lambs.
14 And, David, was dancing with all boldness before Yahweh, —David, being girt with an ephod of linen.
And David sounded with well-tuned instruments before the Lord, and David [was] clothed with a fine long robe.
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.
And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a trumpet.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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;
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.
20 and David returned, to bless his household. Then came forth Michal Saul’s daughter to meet David, and said—How honoured, to-day, was the king of Israel in disrobing himself to-day, in the sight of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the low people, might disrobe himself?
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!
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;
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.
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.
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.
23 Therefore, Michal Saul’s daughter, had no child, —unto the day of her death.
And Melchol the daughter of Saul had no child till the day of her death.

< 2 Samuel 6 >