2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6

Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission 2 Samuel Chart from Charles Swindoll TIMELINE OF THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, KINGS & CHRONICLES 1107 1011 971 931 853 722 586 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 1 Kings 2 Kings 31 1-4 5-10 11-20 21-24 1-11 12-22 1-17 18-25 1Chr 10 1 Chr 11-19 1 Chr 20-29 2 Chronicles 1-9 2 Chronicles 10-20 2 Chronicles 21-36 Legend: B.C. dates at top of timeline are approximate. Note that 931BC marks the division of the Kingdom into Southern Tribes (Judah and Benjamin) and Ten Northern Tribes. To avoid confusion be aware that after the division of the Kingdom in 931BC, the Southern Kingdom is most often designated in Scripture as "Judah" and the Northern Kingdom as "Israel." Finally, note that 1 Chronicles 1-9 is not identified on the timeline because these chapters are records of genealogy. Map of David's Kingdom-ESV Global Map of Cities in 2 Samuel 2 Samuel 6:1 Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. BGT 2 Samuel 6:1 καὶ συνήγαγεν ἔτι Δαυιδ πάντα νεανίαν ἐξ Ισραηλ ὡς ἑβδομήκοντα χιλιάδας LXE 2 Samuel 6:1 And David again gathered all the young men of Israel, about seventy thousand. KJV 2 Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. NET 2 Samuel 6:1 David again assembled all the best men in Israel, thirty thousand in number. CSB 2 Samuel 6:1 David again assembled all the choice men in Israel, 30,000. ESV 2 Samuel 6:1 David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. NIV 2 Samuel 6:1 David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. NLT 2 Samuel 6:1 Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. 2Sa 5:1 1Ki 8:1 1Ch 13:1-4 Ps 132:1-6 Youngblood's Outline of 2 Samuel (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Doing the Right Thing in the Wrong Way A David’s unsuccessful attempt to transport the ark (6:1–5) B Judgment against Uzzah (6:6–11) A′ David’s successful attempt to transport the ark (6:12–19) B′ Judgment against Michal (6:20–23) Related Passages: 1 Chronicles 13:1-4+ (PARALLEL PASSAGE) Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God (NOTE DAVID'S EMPHASIS), let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us; 3 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. Ps 132:1-6+ A Song of Ascents. Remember, O LORD, on David’s behalf, All his affliction; 2 How he swore to the LORD And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 “Surely I will not enter my house, Nor lie on my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes Or slumber to my eyelids, 5 Until I find a place for the LORD, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah, We found it in the field of Jaar. DAVID BEGINS TO ORGANIZE HIS KINGDOM Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand - This is a significant military escort for the transport of the Ark! Notice in the parallel passage that it says "Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader". So what is wrong with consulting with other leaders? After all doesn't Pr 24:6 teach there is wisdom in an abundance of counselors? Yes, there is, but when it comes to major decisions such as "should I go up against the Philistines" or "should I bring the Ark up to my city?" it is the wise course of action to consult with The Leader, the LORD God. David did not do that in this case! Had he done this, tragedy would have been averted! Note that in 1Ch 13:4 " all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people." The majority opinion is not always correct! Only God's opinion matters! THOUGHT - How many times have we consulted with other men or women (and the majority agreed) but failed to consult with God and had to pay a price for our neglecting the best and highest Source of wisdom (Jas 1:5+, Jas 3:17+) to which we all have access because of the blood of Jesus (Heb 10:19-22+)? That is a rhetorical question. Hebrews 4:15-16+ says "we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." 2 Samuel 6:2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the Ark (aron) of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim. BGT 2 Samuel 6:2 καὶ ἀνέστη καὶ ἐπορεύθη Δαυιδ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ὁ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀρχόντων Ιουδα ἐν ἀναβάσει τοῦ ἀναγαγεῖν ἐκεῖθεν τὴν κιβωτὸν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐφ᾽ ἣν ἐπεκλήθη τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου τῶν δυνάμεων καθημένου ἐπὶ τῶν Χερουβιν ἐπ᾽ αὐτῆς LXE 2 Samuel 6:2 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 Hosts who dwells between the cherubs upon it is called. KJV 2 Samuel 6:2 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 cherubims. NET 2 Samuel 6:2 David and all the men who were with him traveled to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts, who sits enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. CSB 2 Samuel 6:2 He and all his troops set out to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah. The ark is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Hosts who dwells between the cherubim. ESV 2 Samuel 6:2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who sits enthroned on the cherubim. NIV 2 Samuel 6:2 He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. NLT 2 Samuel 6:2 He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD of Heaven's Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. Baale: Jos 15:9,10,60, 1Sa 7:1 1Ch 13:5,6 Name: Lev 24:11-16 Isa 47:4 54:5 enthroned: Ex 25:18-22 1Sa 4:4 1Ki 8:6,7 Ps 80:1 1Pe 1:12 Related Passage: 1 Chronicles 13:2+ David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us; 1 Chronicles 13:6+ David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD Who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 1 Samuel 7:1-2+ And the men of Kiriath-jearim came and took the Ark of the LORD and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the Ark of the LORD. 2 From the day that the Ark remained at Kiriath-jearim, the time was long, for it was twenty years; (SEE NOTE ON TIME) and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 2 Kings 19:15 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Psalm 80:1 For the choir director; set to El Shoshannim; Eduth. A Psalm of Asaph. Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock; You who are enthroned above the cherubim, shine forth! Psalm 99:1 The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! SHEKINAH GLORY OVER TENT OF MEETING DAVID GOES TO BRING UP THE ARK And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah - This geographical location for the Ark was about six miles northwest of Jerusalem at Baale-judah ("the lords of Judah" - called Baalah ["possessor," "mistress"] in 1Ch 13:6+) in Judah which was also called Kiriath-jearim and where the Ark had been housed for many years as explained in Youngblood's note below... Youngblood has an interesting note on how long the Ark had been "off the scene" - Since the “twenty years” of 1 Samuel 7:2+ perhaps “refers to the period between the ark’s return from Philistia [1Sa 6:21–7:1] until the battle reported in” 1Sa 7:7–13 (Klein, 65)—or alternatively until the end of Samuel’s judgeship (1Sa 7:15)—to the twenty years must be added at least the forty years of Saul’s reign (see comment on 1 Sa 13:1+) plus a few years into the reign of David, leading to a grand total of more than sixty years that the ark languished in exile (for a similar estimate based on “the well-established view that Shiloh was destroyed about 1050 BC and that David began to reign around the turn of the millennium,” see Blenkinsopp, 145).....Youngblood adds "In any event, for half a century or more the ark of the covenant had been sequestered in “the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill” (v. 3; 1 Sa 7:1), either inaccessible to the Israelites because of Philistine control of the region or languishing in neglect (perhaps partially because King Saul had shown no interest in it; cf. 1 Ch 13:3). (Expositor's Bible Commentary) Alan Redpath: “For almost 70 years (ED: THIS ESTIMATE IS PROBABLY A LITTLE HIGH AND IT IS MORE LIKE 50+ AS NOTED ABOVE) the ark had been missing from its rightful place. To begin with, it was captured by the Philistines. However, they found it a perpetual embarrassment to them, so they built a nice new cart and sent it back. For decades it had languished at the border of Judah, in the household of Abinadab, and from there David determined to rescue it. There is nothing more important in any life than the constantly-enjoyed presence of the Lord. There is nothing more vital, for without it we shall make mistakes. And without it, we shall be defeated. Without the sense of his abiding presence and a place of constant communion and fellowship, how far wrong we will go.” (Pdf - The Making of a Man of God Life of David) Ryrie has a note that I think is too long and not sure how he arrived at it - The Philistines captured the ark at Shiloh (1Sa 4:4, 11), kept it for some months, then returned it to Israel (1Sa 6:1-12), where it stayed at Beth-shemesh and Kiriath-jearim for 100 years. to bring up from there the Ark of God which is called by the Name, the very Name of the LORD of hosts (Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of hosts, of armies) Who is enthroned above the cherubim ("Who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His Name is called" 1Ch 13:6+) - The ark of God represented the immediate presence and glory of God in Israel. 1Ch 13:3+ adds let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul for it had been in Abinadab's house for many years and the implication is that for all of years Israel did not seek God's manifest presence in the Ark. In the wilderness, the Shekinah glory was the manifestation of the LORD of hosts' presence (see depiction above), but there is no description of the Shekinah glory either in Abinadab's house or associated with the transporting of the Ark in this chapter. NIV Study Bible - called by the Name. Used elsewhere to designate ownership (2Sa 12:28; Dt 28:10; Isa 4:1; 63:19). enthroned between the cherubim. On each end of the atonement cover of the ark of the covenant were cherubim of gold with their wings touching each other and spread upward over the ark (Ex 25:17–22). In the space between these cherubim God’s presence with his people was localized in a special way, so that the atonement cover of the ark came to be viewed as the throne of Israel’s divine King (see 2 Sa 6:2; Ps 80:1; 99:1; see also note on Ex 25:18). see also 1Ch 28:2 = “footstool of our God” David recognized the great significance of the ark as the footstool of God’s earthly throne. As a true theocratic king, he wished to acknowledge the Lord’s kingship and rule over both himself and the people by restoring the ark to a place of prominence in the nation. .(Borrow NIV Study Bible) Youngblood on which is called by the Name - Indeed, the ark “is called by the name/Name” (v. 2), an idiom denoting ownership (BDB, 896; cf. 12:28 [“will be named after”]; 1 Ki 8:43 [“bears your Name”]; 2 Ch 7:14; Jer 25:29 [“bears my Name”]) and thus here emphasizing that the ark is the Lord’s property. The term “Name” (unmodified grammatically with a divine title following it), appearing in the books of Samuel only here and in 2Sa 7:13, not only refers to the Lord’s Name but also stands for His presence (cf., e.g., Ex 23:21; Lev 24:11, 16; see also 1 Sa 25:25) and is especially common in Deuteronomy in connection with the centralized place of worship that the Lord would choose for his people in the Promised Land (Dt 12:5, 11, 21; 14:23–24; 16:2, 6, 11; 26:2). (Ibid) Alan Redpath: Preparation for Service – The one thing above all else which David wanted was that, having assumed the responsibility of this position, he should know constantly the presence of God with him. He could not possibly rule in authority and power and victory without the Lord’s guidance. . . This is the thing that matters most in the life of a Christian: that the ungrieved Holy Spirit is indwelling his life in power and authority. (Pdf - The Making of a Man of God Life of David) Paul Apple - The ark of the covenant represents the holy presence of God. While God desires our worship, that worship must be in spirit and in truth. Man must come to God on His terms. Sincerity is no excuse for failure to obey God’s directives. The presence of God is no trifling matter. He should command our holy reverence and inspire unrestrained joyful celebration. This passage provides tremendous insight into how we should approach a holy God in worship and praise. Trace the phrase “and God was with him” throughout the Bible and see the blessing that accompanies the presence of God. No matter our circumstances or opposition, we are secure in God’s blessing when God is with us. J