2 Samuel 6
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
2 Samuel 6
Morris - God had strictly forbidden anyone to touch the ark (Numbers 4:15), and Uzzah disobeyed God's command, even though his intentions were good. Sincerity of purpose is never an adequate reason for rejecting God's Word Critics of the Bible decry this "petty vindictiveness" of God, since they say that Uzza was merely trying to be helpful, even spiritual, in his zeal to keep God's ark from falling. But good intentions do not justify disobedience to God's Word, which had decreed that human hands should never touch the sacred ark of God's covenant (Exodus 25:14+). God's unseen hand would have been fully capable of sustaining the ark, and at the very beginning of the long-awaited Davidic kingdom, it was essential that the people of Israel should learn finally to believe and obey the Word of God at all costs. An even greater judgment had fallen upon the men of Beth-shemesh for presuming to look into the ark when it was returned from the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:19). (Borrow The Defender's Study Bible) Laney points out: “In the first attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem, two violations of Old Testament law took place. First the ark was carried on an ox cart. That violated the Old Testament requirement that the ark be carried by the sons of Kohath in Exodus 25:14, 15 and Numbers 3:30, 31 and 7:9, not transported by a cart or other vehicle. In his enthusiasm for moving the ark to Jerusalem as quickly as possible, David adopted a Philistine expedient. The second violation of Old Testament law took place when Uzzah inadvertently touched the ark to keep it from toppling off the cart. Touching the ark was in direct violation of Numbers 4:15. The sin of Uzzah in touching the ark resulted from the fact that the ark was not being carried by the Levites as God had directed. That violation of God’s holiness cost Uzzah his life. The judgment of Uzzah serves as a warning against situation ethics. Because of his holiness, God’s laws cannot be violated, no matter how reasonable it would seem in a particular situation.” (Borrow First and Second Samuel) Alan Redpath points out: “I suggest to you that if David had inquired of the Lord, as had become his usual practice, although apparently he had omitted it in this case, he could have avoided the catastrophe. Why should this thing have happened. Surely it seems a bit tough of God to strike a man dead simply because he did the thing that was natural. After all, the ark might have fallen off the cart altogether. Surely it was all right to touch it and keep it steady. The point is, you see, the ark should never have been on that cart at all. In the construction of the ark, as commanded by God in Exodus 25, it was made with rings and staves for carrying it. There was nothing mechanical about the ark of God, whatever. It was a divine institution. When it was moved, it was to be carried exclusively by Levites, and even they were not allowed to touch it, as we find in Numbers 4:15. The ark was nothing less than the burden of the Lord, and the burden of the Lord was to be carried on the hearts of the Levites. We want God’s presence very much, don’t we? But we like to hitch his presence to some of our new carts. We like to add him to our list of organizations, to load him on top of the mechanics of a busy life and then drive. How much of our desire is really in the energy of the flesh, I wonder. So often we put forth our hands but not our hearts. We put forth our hands to the work of the Lord but somehow our hearts have never really gotten under the burden of the Lord and begun like the Levites to carry it. Always it is a tragic thing to die under the judgment of God, but I suggest to you that the biggest tragedy of all was to die right alongside the ark of God’s mercy.” (Pdf - The Making of a Man of God Life of David) THOUGHT - There is a strong note of caution in this story which parallels Paul's words of warning to the church in Corinth regarding the manner in which they were approaching the Lord's Table of communion. Paul writes "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come." (1Cor 11:27-34+). Uzzah's action and God's response indicate He is serious about HOLY! Paul's warning begs the question am I serious about the holiness of the Lord's Table? If I approach it in an unworthy manner, God may either strike me with sickness or even death! With possibly one exception (at 77 it is hard to remember every communion over the past 35 years) I don't think I have ever had anyone who was leading the communion to warn with Paul's words. I know my wife refused to take communion one Sunday and got up from the pew and went to another part of the auditorium to ask forgiveness of a lady and then she came back and took communion. Irreverence (07944)(shal) is used only here (hapax legomenon). Gilbrant writes that "Many see it as an addition to the original text, which is reflected in its absence from the Septuagint. And many hold that it is a shortened form of an addition found in the Dead Sea Scrolls and 1 Chr. 13:10 which reads, "because he put his hand to the ark." The phrase would not include this form, but instead, it would be found as part of the verb shālach, "to send." However, there is no obvious text-critical mechanism at work here for the rest of the phrase to be dropped. Further, the witness of the Septuagint may be ignored on the text-critical principle of lectio difficilior, meaning the more difficult reading is probably the original, as easier readings are often efforts to smooth out tougher texts. Others see this form as a noun derived from the verb shālāh, "to be at ease." An Akkadian cognate would mean something such as "slander," "imprudence." The verb connotes the sense of being at ease despite doing a morally deplorable act. Hence, the phrase would be rendered something akin to "on account of his imprudence." The act of imprudence on the part of Uzzah was that he touched the Ark, a holy relic with which the presence of Yahweh came in contact, while he was ritually impure. His act would have defiled the Ark had he been allowed to touch it. By killing Uzzah, the ritual purity of the Ark was maintained. Norman Geisler - 2 SAMUEL 6:7—Does reverence for the ark of the covenant support the Roman Catholic view of venerating relics? MISINTERPRETATION: According to this verse, “The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.” Does this give credence to the Catholic dogma of venerating religious relics? CORRECTING THE MISINTERPRETATION: Uzzah was not stricken for failing to venerate the ark but for disobedience to the law of God that forbade anyone but a priest to touch it (Num. 4:15; cf. 2 Sam. 6:7). Showing respect for the ark, in which the very presence of God and his glory was manifested, is far different from venerating the relics of human creatures. For one thing, the ark was a divinely appointed symbol, not the mere remains and adornment of men. For another, it was a special symbol in a unique theocracy, where God personally and visibly (in the cloud of his glory) dwelt among his specially chosen people, Israel. Finally, even granting the special place the ark had, the people were not to venerate it (Exod. 20:4–5) but were simply to obey God’s laws with regard to its use. God clearly commanded his people not to make graven images or to bow down to them in an act of religious devotion. This is the same error of the pagans who “revered and worshiped the creature rather than the Creator” (Rom. 1:25). The Bible forbids us ever to make or “bow” before an “image” of any creature in an act of religious devotion: “You shall not make for yourselves any carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down nor serve them” (Exod. 20:4–5 NKJV, emphasis added). (When Cultists Ask) 2 Samuel 6:8 And David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. BGT 2 Samuel 6:8 καὶ ἠθύμησεν Δαυιδ ὑπὲρ οὗ διέκοψεν κύριος διακοπὴν ἐν τῷ Οζα καὶ ἐκλήθη ὁ τόπος ἐκεῖνος διακοπὴ Οζα ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης LXE 2 Samuel 6:8 And David was dispirited because the Lord made a breach upon Oza; and that place was called the breach of Oza until this day. KJV 2 Samuel 6:8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. NET 2 Samuel 6:8 David was angry because the LORD attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day. CSB 2 Samuel 6:8 David was angry because of the LORD's outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah, as it is today. ESV 2 Samuel 6:8 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day. NIV 2 Samuel 6:8 Then David was angry because the LORD's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. NLT 2 Samuel 6:8 David was angry because the LORD's anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means "to burst out against Uzzah"), as it is still called today. David became angry: 1Ch 13:11,12 Jon 4:1,9 Related Passages: 1 Samuel 6:19+ He struck down some of the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck down of all the people, 50,070 men, and the people mourned because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter. And David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day - The question arises as where was David's anger directed, to God or to himself? If David's anger was directed against the Lord, it was misdirected, because the tragedy occurred through his own carelessness. Youngblood feels it was against the LORD, writing "David is understandably indignant that the divine “wrath” (lit., “breaking out,” v. 8) has broken out against Uzzah and resulted in his death, a seemingly harsh penalty for so small an infraction" (Ibid) David's giving of a name to the place of this tragedy was a good thing, because Perez-uzzah would hereafter serve as a reminder to everyone that the LORD God is holy, holy, holy, a true that unholy people are prone to quickly forget! When families would walk by this place on the way to Jerusalem, the children could ask why does this place have such a strange name? Perez-uzzah is a play on the "break out" and literally means "the break-through of Uzzah." Paul Apple - Uzzah's Knee Jerk Reaction of Expediency– Uzzah’s Fatal Mistake. The Righteous Anger of the Lord Evokes the Humanistic Anger of David David
2 Samuel 6
Morris - Michal's sarcastic charge that David had "uncovered himself" (2 Samuel 6:20) while bringing the ark into Jerusalem was an exaggeration intended to show her displeasure at David's display of religious emotion. David had evidently divested himself only of his royal vestments to show humility before the Lord, and Michal resented this. Her judgment of childlessness (2 Samuel 6:23) was appropriate in this context. (Borrow The Defender's Study Bible) Believer's Study Bible - David accompanied the ark to Jerusalem, sacrificing at the outset (2Sa 6:13) and conclusion (v. 17) of the journey. David's dance was a kind of religious ecstasy in which he gave public demonstration of his joy in the Lord and of his own submission to the Lord. His participation in sacrifice points to his role as a messianic priest, one like Melchizedek, in anticipation of the priestly role of the second David, Jesus Christ (Ps. 110:4; Mark 2:26; Heb. 5:5-10; 7:1-28). QUESTION - Did David dance naked (2 Samuel 6:14)? ANSWER - In one of the most effusive displays of worship recorded in the Bible, King David danced “before the Lord with all his might” (2 Samuel 6:14). The occasion was the return of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It was a day of rejoicing as David “and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets” (verse 15). David had set aside his royal robes and was “wearing a linen ephod” (verse 14)—a clear indication that he was not naked. The ephod David wore was a garment usually reserved for priests and those ministering before the Lord. As David led the procession of the ark into the city, he humbly laid aside his royal garments and worshiped the Lord, in ecstatic joy, as the representative of God’s “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). The ephod David wore was made of fine linen and consisted of two pieces, covering both back and front (Exodus 28:6–8, 31–32). The two pieces were fastened together over the shoulders and held at the waist by a belt of some kind. The ephod worn by the high priests would have been different, as it was embroidered with gold and bright colors and somehow bore the Urim and Thummim by which God directed the people. David’s wife Michal was horrified at her husband’s public dance, but not because he was naked. Scripture says she “watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart” (2 Samuel 6:16). She was embarrassed at his lack of decorum and felt it was beneath his dignity as king. In a sarcastic rebuke of her husband, Michal accused him of “going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” (verse 20). Other translations render Michal’s complaint as David’s being “exposed” (CSB), “undressed” (ISV), and “shamelessly uncovered” (NKJV). Some of this wording makes it sound as if David danced naked, but the context is clear that he was wearing the ephod instead of the royal attire. It should also be noted that Michal’s contempt for David may have had nothing to do with his public performance; rather, it could have stemmed from the fact that he had taken her from her husband and reclaimed her as his wife—most likely without her consent (2 Samuel 3:14–16). Whatever the reason for her disgust, the Bible notes that Michal never had any children (2 Samuel 6:23), which may indicate a judgment from God or simply that David never sought to have marital relations with her again. David was undeterred by Michal’s criticism. In fact, he doubled down, telling her that it was the Lord he was dancing before, and he was quite willing to abase himself in the Lord’s presence: “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Samuel 6:21–22). David’s deep passion and exuberant worship are part of what make his psalms so relatable. He expressed his adoration of God in a variety of ways: through his music, his writings, and his public displays.GotQuestions.org 2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet. BGT 2 Samuel 6:15 καὶ Δαυιδ καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκος Ισραηλ ἀνήγαγον τὴν κιβωτὸν κυρίου μετὰ κραυγῆς καὶ μετὰ φωνῆς σάλπιγγος LXE 2 Samuel 6:15 And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of a trumpet. KJV 2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. NET 2 Samuel 6:15 David and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD, shouting and blowing trumpets. CSB 2 Samuel 6:15 He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of the ram's horn. ESV 2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the horn. NIV 2 Samuel 6:15 while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. NLT 2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams' horns. David: Ps 132:18 with shouting: 1Ch 15:16,25,28 Ezra 3:10,11 Ps 47:1,5,6 68:24-27 the sound: Nu 10:1-10 Jos 6:4,5 Ps 150:3 Related Passage: Psalm 150:3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. 1 Chronicles 15:16; 25; 28 Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy......25 So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the captains over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom with joy.....28)Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres. 1 Chronicles 16:4-6 4He appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the LORD, even to celebrate and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: 5 Asaph the chief, and second to him Zechariah, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel, with musical instruments, harps, lyres; also Asaph played loud-sounding cymbals, 6and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God. 1 Chronicles 16:37-42 So he left Asaph and his relatives there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD to minister before the ark continually, as every day’s work required; 38and Obed-edom with his 68 relatives; Obed-edom, also the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah as gatekeepers. 39He left Zadok the priest and his relatives the priests before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place which was at Gibeon, 40to offer burnt offerings to the LORD on the altar of burnt offering continually morning and evening, even according to all that is written in the law of the LORD, which He commanded Israel. 41With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the LORD, because His lovingkindness is everlasting. 42And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate. So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the Ark (aron) of the LORD with shouting and the sound of the trumpet - Note the role that the music of praise played in the worship of the Lord before the ark of the covenant (1Ch 16:4–6, 37–42) (See HORNS USED BY ISRAEL) This event of bringing up the Ark impacted everyone, most positively, some negatively - David (2Sa 6:12–15, 18, 19), (2) The Levites (1Ch. 15:4–28), (3) Michal (2Sa 6:16, 20), (4) The worshiping multitude (1Ch 15:3, 28+), (5) David and Michal (2Sa 6:20–23). 2 Samuel 6:16 Then it happened as the Ark (aron) of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. BGT 2 Samuel 6:16 καὶ ἐγένετο τῆς κιβωτοῦ παραγινομένης ἕως πόλεως Δαυιδ καὶ Μελχολ ἡ θυγάτηρ Σαουλ διέκυπτεν διὰ τῆς θυρίδος καὶ εἶδεν τὸν βασιλέα Δαυιδ ὀρχούμενον καὶ ἀνακρουόμενον ἐνώπιον κυρίου καὶ ἐξουδένωσεν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῆς LXE 2 Samuel 6:16 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. KJV 2 Samuel 6:16 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. NET 2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out the window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him. CSB 2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the city of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. ESV 2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. NIV 2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart. NLT 2 Samuel 6:16 But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him. Then it happened: 1Ch 15:29 Michal: 2Sa 3:14 despised: 1Ch 15:29 Ps 69:7 Isa 53:3 Ac 2:13 1Co 2:14 DAVID'S DANCING DESPISED Then it happened as the Ark (aron) of the LORD came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised (bazah; Lxx - phaulizo - consider worthless, hold cheap) him in her heart - What does it say about Michal that she had not gone down with David to bring back the Ark? Women were allowed. At the least it shows she was indifferent to the most important symbol in the Jewish religion! This seems to be like father, like daughter, for Saul was not enamored with the things of God (he let the Ark sit at Kiriath-Jearim for 40 years!) (the old saying the apple does not fall far from the tree!), in fact even killing the priests at Nob, showing he had no holy fear. As someone wrote Michal's criticism of David was tantamount to “acting like a true daughter of Saul!" She may have been bitter because she was torn away from a man who loved her. She may have been bitter because she was wife #1 but now was wife among what amounted to an harem! God's work done in God's way results in God's blessing!