2 Samuel 6:1-11
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Additional Reading
Additional Reading
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it. And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
Compare this reading to :
[ KJV] 1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, [and] with every leader. 2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If [it seem] good unto you, and [that it be] of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, [that are] left in all the land of Israel, and with them [also] to the priests and Levites [which are] in their cities [and] suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: 3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. 4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. 5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim. 6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kirjathjearim, which [belonged] to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth [between] the cherubims, whose name is called [on it]. 7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all [their] might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
What differences does Scripture note for us here in compared to ?
Chronicles provides a narrative from David on how he made the decision to bring forth the ark of God - he consulted with “every leader” (v1)
David then presents his findings to the congregation of Israel and his desire (v2)
David knows the priests and Levites need to be involved, but note in verse 3 “let us bring again the ark of our God” - instead it should have stated “let them bring again the ark of God unto us”
It was right in the eyes of all the people (v4)
David gets everyone involved (v5) - Chronicles lists the extent of where people came from
Chronicles makes mention that with the playing of instruments they played with all their might (v8) - they were very sincere in their worship
David exclaims how he will bring the ark of God home (v12)
Ark was carried aside into the house of Odebedom the Gittite (v13) - how was it carried aside? It likely remained on the cart.
Worship
Worship
Compare David’s worship with worship seen in contemporary Christian circles today:
Ideas and opinion sought from leaders
Confirmation/surveys from the people - all appears “right”
A worldly/carnal method is used (a new cart - only observed with the Philistines moving the ark out of their land).
A “new cart” may by appearances show how respectful one is to a holy object, but this was not God’s requirement.
A big production occurs (30,000 chosen men)
Friendly/brotherly (Ahio) leading; strength (Uzzah) sustaining - all done by their own might
No genuine consultation with the Lord!
It was a good thing, but it was done in the wrong way.
How are we to worship?
How are we to worship?
Not to make us focus on how we feel, but on pleasing God. There’s nothing wrong with being joyous in worship, but so long as we are obeying God in how He wants to be worshipped.
Not us dictating the terms.
Ark
Ark
How has the ark moved?
How has the ark moved?
History of the ark in books of Samuel
History of the ark in books of Samuel
Dwelt in a tabernacle in Shiloh
1 Samuel
And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there.
And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
2. Taken to battle in Eben-ezer
And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.
3. Taken by the Philistines in battle to Ashdod
And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.
4. Was in the country of the Philistines seven months
And the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months.
5. Sent back to Israel to Beth-shemesh
And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart; and put the jewels of gold, which ye return him for a trespass offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go.
And they of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.
And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord.
6. Sent to the men of Kirjath-Jearim
1 Samuel
And the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.
7. Ark was requested by king Saul, but never fetched
And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand.
And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.
8. Ark fetched by David on a new cart
Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 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. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
9. Ark stays 3 months in Obed-edom
And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.
2 Samuel 6:
10. Ark brought to Jerusalem in a tabernacle created by David
And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
2 Samuel
So the movements of the ark were as follows:
Taken into battle and brought in by the priests Hopni and Phinehas
Philistines brought it forth to Ashdod (no specifics on how)
Philistines sent it away on a cart pulled by 2 milking cows
Men of Beth-shemesh used Levites to carry the ark
Men of Kirjath-Jearim fetched it up and it dwelt in the house of Abinadab. We don’t know if these were of the lineage of Levi, but if they weren’t they were trying to do the right thing - “sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark”
Due to the engagement of the nation in agreeing with bringing the cart out of Kirjath-Jearim this was the extent of how many were involved.
This unit was likely to be a national elite forces that would help to remove the current location of the ark to a safer location. Scripture here is emphasising in the first verse the importance of the ark for the nation, hence why the title “Lord of hosts” is used.
The Philistines did similar with the cart being pulled by 2 milking cows, here we have the cart being mobilised by oxen. The tactic is very similar to how the Philistines moved the ark.
Remember, when the Philistines sent the cart they didn’t expect it to go into the hands of the Israelites and they sent it forth where the natural inclination of the cows was to turn back to their young. However, through divine guidance the ark did safely make it back.
New cart - a sign of respect for the holy object
Accompanied by the sons of Abinadab - Ahio leading the procession and Uzzah guiding the cart.
Accompanied with songs by harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets and cymbals (both stringed and percussion instruments)
Much service for the Lord is like this:
New fancy cart
A big production
Friendly out front (Ahio) and Strength out back (Uzzah)
When the cart then wobbled and the oxen shook the ark, Uzzah put forth his hand and took hold of it.
Why would the Lord kill Uzzah for what he done when he was helping the ark of God?
Why would the Lord kill Uzzah for what he done when he was helping the ark of God?
The Philistines transported the ark on a cart and they got away with it because they knew no better. The nation of Israel could not plead ignorance.
Israel was to take their example from God’s Word, not from the innovations of the Philistines.
And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
God takes His Word seriously.
Why was David displeased?
Why was David displeased?
He couldn’t understand why his good intentions along with the desire of the people were not honoured and ended in death.
God cares not just about our intentions - we can easily justify the goodness of our intentions with our acts, but God wants both our intentions and acts to be conformed to His desire and Word.
David eventually finds the answer in God’s Word, and when we read we see how detailed and descriptive his means are when he comes back the second time.