2 Samuel 6

1 Then David chose 30,000 Israeli men and gathered them together.

And David, once more, gathered together all the choice young men in Israel, thirty thousand.

2 He led them to the place in Judah [formerly] called Baalah, [now called Kiriath-Jearim]. They went in order to bring from there [to Jerusalem] the sacred chest, which had the name of Yahweh, the leader of the armies of [the angels in] heaven, written on it, and which had the [statues of the] winged creatures on top of it. Between those statues was where Yahweh spoke messages about ruling his people [MTY].

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.

3 The sacred chest was in the house of Abinadab, on top of a hill. They went there, and they put the chest on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio, the two sons of Abinadab, were guiding [the oxen that were pulling the cart].

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.

4 Uzzah walked alongside the cart, and Ahio walked in front of it.

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.

5 David and all the Israeli men were celebrating in God’s presence, singing with all their strength and [playing] lyres and harps, and beating tambourines, and clashing castanets and cymbals.

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.

6 But when they came to the place where Nacon threshed grain, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah put his hand on the sacred chest to (steady it/prevent it from falling [off the cart]).

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.

7 Yahweh immediately became very angry with Uzzah, and he killed him right there alongside the sacred chest, because he had touched the chest, [and Yahweh had commanded that only the descendants of Levi who help the priests should touch the sacred chest].

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.

8 David was angry because Yahweh had punished Uzzah. So ever since that time, that place has been called ‘The Punishment of Uzzah’.

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.

9 David was [also] afraid of [what else] Yahweh [would do to punish them], so he said, “(How can I take the sacred chest with me [to Jerusalem]?/I am afraid to take the sacred chest with me [to Jerusalem].)” [RHQ]

And David was afraid of Yahweh, on that day, —and said, How can the ark of Yahweh come unto me?

10 So he did not want to take the sacred chest to Jerusalem. Instead, they took it to another place; they took it to the house of Obed-Edom, from Gath [city].

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.

11 They left the sacred chest in the house of Obed-Edom for three months, and [during that time] Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom and his family.

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.

12 Later, people told David, “Yahweh has blessed Obed-Edom and his family because [he is taking care] of the sacred chest!” When David heard that, he [and some other men] went to Obed-Edom’s house, and very joyfully brought the sacred chest from there to Jerusalem.

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.

13 [This time, descendants of Levi] were carrying the sacred chest, but when they had walked only six steps, they stopped, and there David killed a bull and a fat calf, and offered them to Yahweh for a sacrifice.

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.

14 David was wearing [only] a linen cloth wrapped around his waist, and was dancing very energetically to honor Yahweh.

And, David, was dancing with all boldness before Yahweh, —David, being girt with an ephod of linen.

15 David and the Israeli men took the sacred chest up [to Jerusalem], shouting [loudly] and blowing trumpets.

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.

16 While they were carrying the sacred chest into the city, [David’s wife] Michal, who was Saul’s daughter, looked out the window [of her house]. She saw King David leaping and dancing to honor Yahweh. So she was disgusted with him.

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.

17 They brought the sacred chest into the tent that David had erected for it. Then David gave to Yahweh offerings to be completely burned [on an altar], and other offerings to maintain fellowship with Yahweh.

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.

18 When David had finished offering those sacrifices, he asked Yahweh, the Commander of the armies [of the angels], to bless the people.

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.

19 He also distributed food to all the people. To each Israeli man and woman he gave a loaf of bread, some meat, and a raisin cake. Then all the people returned to their homes.

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;

20 When David went home to [ask Yahweh to] bless his family, his wife Michal came out to meet him. She said to him, “Maybe you, the king of Israel, [think that you] [IRO] were honoring yourself today, but really, you acted like a fool, uncovering yourself while the female servants of your officials were watching!”

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?

21 David replied to Michal, “[I was doing that] to honor Yahweh, who chose me instead of your father and other members of his family, to be the king of the Israeli people, the people who belong to Yahweh. And I will [continue to] dance to honor Yahweh!

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;

22 [Even though you think that what I did] was disgraceful, I will continue to do it even more. You may despise me [because of what I did], but the women whom you were talking about will honor me!”

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.

23 [As a result, ] Saul’s daughter Michal never gave birth to any children.

Therefore, Michal Saul’s daughter, had no child, —unto the day of her death.