Peril in Moving the Ark
1 Again David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 And David arose and went with all those who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim], to bring up from there [to Jerusalem] the ark of God which is called by the Name–the very Name of the Lordof hosts, who dwells enthronedabovethe cherubim.
3 They placed the ark of God ona new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.
4 So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.
5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebratinganddancing before the Lordwith all kinds ofinstruments made offirorcypress wood, with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6 When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out [with his hand] to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen [stumbled and] nearly overturned it.
7 Andthe anger of the Lordburned against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.
8 David becameangryandgrievedandoffended because of the Lord’soutburst against Uzzah, and that place has been called Perez-uzzah (outburst against Uzzah) to this day.
9 So David was afraid of the Lordthat day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lordcome to me?”
10 David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lordinto the City of David with him; instead he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
11 So the ark of the Lordremained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lordblessed Obed-edom and all his household (family).
The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem
12 Now King David was told, “The Lordhas blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs 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 rejoicingandgladness.
13 And when those who were carrying the ark of the Lord[by its poles] had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
14 And David was dancing before the Lordwithgreat enthusiasm, and David waswearing a linen ephod [a priest’s upper garment].
15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing the ark of the Lordup [to the City of David] with shouts [of joy] and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 Then, as the ark of the Lordcame into the City of David,Michal, Saul’s daughter [David’s wife], looked down from the window above and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she felt contempt for him in her heart [because she thought him undignified].
17 They brought in the ark of the Lordand set it in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
18 When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lordof hosts (armies),
19 and distributed to all the people, the entire multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to each a [ring-shaped] loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people departed, each to his house.
20 Then David returned to bless his household. But [his wife] Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How gloriousanddistinguished was the king of Israel today,who uncovered himselfandstripped [off his kingly robes] in the eyes of his servants’ maids like one of the riffraff who shamelessly uncovers himself!”
21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord[that I did this], who chose me above your father and all his house, to appoint me as ruler over Israel, the people of the Lord. Therefore I will celebrate [in pure enjoyment] before the Lord.
22 Yet I will demean myselfevenmore than this, and will be humbled (abased) in my own sight [and yours, as I please], but by the maids whom you mentioned, by them I shall be held in honor.”
23 Michal the daughter of Saul had nochild to the day of her death.