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2 Samuel
Chapter Six
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO SECOND SAMUEL 6
In
this chapter we are told that David fetched the ark from Baale of Judah
with
an intent to bring it to his own city
2 Samuel 6:1; but
Uzzah being smitten for his error concerning it
David was displeased
and left
it at the house of Obededom
where it remained three months
and proved a
blessing to his house
2 Samuel 6:6; which
David hearing of
went and brought it from thence with great expressions of joy
before it as it came along
and offered offerings to the Lord at the setting it
in its place
and gave gifts to the people
2 Samuel 6:12; but
Michal his wife was displeased with some of his gestures on that occasion
which made some difference between them
and which
on Michal's part
was
resented by the Lord himself; for she became barren for it to the time of her
death
2 Samuel 6:20.
2 Samuel 6:1 Again
David gathered all the choice men of Israel
thirty thousand.
YLT
1And David gathered again
every chosen one in Israel
thirty thousand
Again
David gathered together all the chosen men of
Israel
thirty thousand. Which was done by the advice of his officers
1 Chronicles 13:1;
the word "again" refers either to the gathering of them when they
made him king in Hebron
as the Jewish writers generally observe; but then they
gathered themselves
and not David: or rather to his gathering them to fight
the Philistines a little while ago; and as they were the choice and young men
that were gathered for war
as being the fittest
so now to fetch up the ark
with dancing and singing
and to protect it; the Septuagint version says they
were about seventy thousand; but the Targum
Syriac
and Arabic versions
have
thirty thousand
agreeably to the Hebrew text.
2 Samuel 6:2 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
whose name is called by the Name
[a] the Lord of Hosts
who
dwells between the cherubim.
YLT
2and David riseth and goeth
and all the people who [are] with him
from Baale-Judah
to bring up thence the
ark of God
whose name hath been called -- the name of Jehovah of Hosts
inhabiting the cherubs -- upon it.
And David arose
and went with all the people that were with
him
.... The thirty thousand chosen men gathered together
and as
many else as chose to go:
from Baale of Judah
to bring up from thence the ark of God; that is
they
first went to this place
as in 1 Chronicles 13:6;
in order to fetch the ark from thence
as here expressed
and then they came
from thence with it; this place is the same that is called Baalah and
Kirjathbaal
a city in the tribe of Judah; hence Judah is added to it
and the
same with Kirjathjearim
Joshua 15:9; the
place where it was brought to when fetched from Bethshemesh
1 Samuel 7:1; and
had been here now near fifty years; nor was it any where else during this time
only once at Gibeah of Saul with him
1 Samuel 14:18;
whose name he called by the name of the Lord of hosts
that
dwelleth between the cherubim; not the ark
but the
Lord
whose is the ark; his name is called by the name of Jehovah
the infinite
incomprehensible
eternal
and immutable Being
the Lord of armies above and
below; whose habitation was between the cherubim that overshadowed the mercy
seat
which was above the ark; all this is said
not only to express the
greatness and majesty of God
but for the honour of the ark
which belonged to
him.
2 Samuel 6:3 3 So they set the ark of God
on a new cart
and brought it out of the house of Abinadab
which was on
the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio
the sons of Abinadab
drove the new cart.[b]
YLT
3And they cause the ark of
God to ride on a new cart
and lift it up from the house of Abinadab
which
[is] in the height
and Uzzah and Ahio sons of Abinadab are leading the new
cart;
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart
.... Which was
a great mistake
since it ought not to have been put upon a cart
old or new;
it was to be borne upon men's shoulders
and carried by Levites only
and those
of the family of Kohath
to whom no wagons were given
when others had them
for the above reason
Numbers 7:9; it is
strange that so many priests and Levites
and of the people of Israel gathered
together on that account
and David also
so well versed in the law of God
should not refer to it; perhaps they were led by the example of the
Philistines
who put it in a new cart
and set it forward towards Bethshemesh
and were not punished for it; but it should have been considered they were an
ignorant Heathen people
and who had no proper persons among them to bear it
and so might be dispensed with. This mistake was afterwards seen by David
and
rectified
1 Chronicles 15:2;
wherefore there is no reason to charge the text with an error or escape
and
that the word "Kirjathjearim" is wanting
and to be supplied
as
SpinosaF4Tractat. Theol. Politic. c. 9. p. 176. suggests:
and brought it out
or "after they had brought it
out"F5וישאהו "quum
extulissent"
Piscator. :
of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah; or which was
on the hill in Kirjathjearim
1 Samuel 7:1
and Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drew the new cart; perhaps not
only Abinadab himself was dead
but Eleazar also
his eldest son
who was
sanctified to keep the ark
as in 1 Samuel 7:1; and
these might be his younger sons who at this time had the care of it
and it may
be especially Uzzah.
2 Samuel 6:4 4 And they brought it out of
the house of Abinadab
which was on the hill
accompanying the ark of
God; and Ahio went before the ark.
YLT
4and they lift it up from
the house of Abinadab
which [is] in the height
with the ark of God
and Ahio
is going before the ark
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab
which was
at Gibeah
.... That is
the new cart
which is the last thing spoken of
2 Samuel 6:3; and
the bringing of the ark out of his house is mentioned before; though some take
this to be the coffer in which were the presents of the Philistines
which was
now brought out along with the ark
see 1 Samuel 6:8
accompanying the ark of God; or "with the ark of
God"F6עם ארון
האלהים "cum arca Dei"
Pagninus
Montanus
Tigurine version
Piscator. ; that is
they brought the new cart
"from" the house of Abinadab on the hill
with the ark of God upon
it:
and Ahio went before the ark; guiding the oxen that
drew it
and Uzzah might go behind
or on one side
to take care that the ark
fell not out of it.
2 Samuel 6:5 5 Then David and all the
house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds
of instruments of fir wood
on harps
on stringed instruments
on
tambourines
on sistrums
and on cymbals.
YLT
5and David and all the house
of Israel are playing before Jehovah
with all kinds of [instruments] of
fir-wood
even with harps
and with psalteries
and with timbrels
and with
cornets
and with cymbals.
And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord
.... That is
before the ark
which was a symbol of the presence of the Lord:
on all manner of instruments made of fir wood: which is a
general expression
the particulars follow; though instruments of different
sorts are mentioned
and even some of metal
as cymbals
which were vessels of
brass
they struck one against another
and gave a very acute sound
being
hollowF7Suidas in voce κυμβαλα.
:
even on harps
and on psalteries
and on timbrels
and on cornets
and on cymbals; harps
psalteries
and timbrels
are frequently met with;
cornets
according to Kimchi
are such sort of instruments
that in playing
upon them it required an agitation of the whole body. Now it was that David
penned the sixty eighth psalm
which begins
"let God arise"
&c.
Psalm 68:1
words
used by Moses when the ark set forward
Numbers 10:35.
2 Samuel 6:6 6 And when they came to
Nachon’s threshing floor
Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and
took hold of it
for the oxen stumbled.
YLT
6And they come unto the
threshing-floor of Nachon
and Uzzah putteth forth [his hand] unto the ark of
God
and layeth hold on it
for they released the oxen;
And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor
.... Who is
called Chidon
1 Chronicles 13:9;
he seems to have had two names; or it was a place that had two names
as say
the JewsF8T. Bab Sotah
fol. 35. 2. ; according to a tradition of
theirsF9Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 83. G.
Chidon
is the name of the place where it was said to Joshua
stretch out the spear or
shield in thine hand towards Ai
Joshua 8:18; so
indeed the word signifies
nor was it unusual to stretch out the shield as a
signal on occasion. Thus Aeneas lifted up his shield in his left hand
as a
token to his Trojans that he was come to relieve themF11Virgil.
Aeneid. 10. ver. 261
262. Vid. Diodor. Sic. l. 20. p. 787. : where this
threshingfloor was is not said; some sayF12Gloss. in T. Bab. Sotah
fol. 35. 3. it was the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite; it could not be
far from Jerusalem
since Baalejudah or Kirjathjearim was but about a mile from
it
according to BuntingF13Travels
&c. p. 138.
from whence
they fetched the ark:
Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God
and took hold of it; to keep it
from falling: the reason was:
for the oxen shook it; the same word is used in
1 Chronicles 13:9;
and there it is rendered
"for the oxen stumbled"; and by their
stumbling the cart was shaken
and the ark in it
and in danger of falling
as
Uzzah thought: or "the oxen shook"
for the word "it" is a
supplement; they shook as if their members were plucking asunder and parting
as Kimchi expresses it
because of the holiness of the ark; as if they were
sensible it was wrong for them to draw it
when it ought to have been carried
on the shoulders of Levites; and by this way
as well as by the death of Uzzah
the error committed was pointed out: but others render it
"for the oxen
stuck in the clay"F14כי שמטו הבקר "nam luto
haeserunt boves"
Noldius
p. 396. No. 1343. so Bochart. Hierozoic. par.
1. l. 2. c. 37. col. 374. ex Arabica Lingua.
and could not go on; which Uzzah
observing
and fearing that in their struggle to get out the cart should be
overturned
or that the procession would be retarded too much
took hold of the
ark to take it out
and carry it the remainder of the way
it not being far
from Jerusalem.
2 Samuel 6:7 7 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused
against Uzzah
and God struck him there for his error; and he died there
by the ark of God.
YLT
7and the anger of Jehovah
burneth against Uzzah
and God smiteth him there for the error
and he dieth
there by the ark of God.
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah
.... And which
was manifest by smiting him:
and God smote him there for his error; committed at
this time
which was complicated; as that the ark was put upon a cart
to which
he might be the chief adviser
as Procopius Gazaeus notes
when it should have
been carried on the shoulders of the Levites; and that be touched it with his
hand
which none but priests might do
supposing him to be a Levite
which it
is not clear he was
however not a Kohathite; and he took hold of it in order
to carry it in his arms
which even Levites
and those Kohathites
might not
do
but with staves put into it
which only they were to hold; and besides
as
Abarbinel observes
he showed little faith in the power and providence of God
as if he could not take care of the ark without him:
and there he died by the ark of God; directly
upon the spot
by the side of it; whether he was struck by lightning
or in what way
cannot
be said; however
he died by the immediate hand of God
in token of his
displeasure: and this shows that it is dangerous in matters of worship to act
contrary to the command of God
even in things that may seem small and trivial;
and though what may be done may be done with a good intention
as this was
yet
that will not excuse the sin; nor are those who are the most forward and
zealous in religious matters exempted from marks of God's displeasure when they
go wrong.
2 Samuel 6:8 8 And David became angry
because of the Lord’s
outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah[c] to this
day.
YLT
8And it is displeasing to
David
because that Jehovah hath broken forth a breach upon Uzzah
and [one]
calleth that place Perez-Uzzah
unto this day;
And David was displeased
because the Lord had made a breach upon
Uzzah
.... He could not easily submit
and be reconciled to the
providence; his heart was ready to rise up against God
and murmur at him for
striking him dead in such an awful manner
for so small a matter as this might
seem to be; and the rather
as this put a stop to the procession
and cast a
damp upon their joy and mirth on this occasion
and might seem to be an ill
omen to David
and be improved by his enemies against him:
and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah unto this day; the name he
gave the place
which signifies "the breach of Uzzah"
continued to
the time of writing this book.
2 Samuel 6:9 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day; and
he said
“How can the ark of the Lord come to me?”
YLT
9and David feareth Jehovah
on that day
and saith
`How doth the ark of Jehovah come in unto me?'
And David was afraid of the Lord that day
.... Lest he
should be smitten for his error also
and especially as he had discovered some
resentment at the Lord's dealing with Uzzah; when he ought to have been still
and quiet
and submitted to the will of God
and owned his justice in it
confessed his own error
and been thankful for his sparing mercy vouchsafed to
him:
and said
how shall the ark of the Lord come to me? the meaning
of which is not
how it should be brought to the place provided by him in
Jerusalem
now Uzzah was dead
for there were Levites enough to carry it
as
they afterwards did; but as signifying that it would be either boldness and
presumption in him to do it
since God had shown such a mark of his displeasure
at their proceeding
that he might be in doubt whether it was the will of God
it should come to him; or as fearing it would be dangerous to him to have it
with him
since he might be guilty of such an error
of the same
or like it
that had been committed.
2 Samuel 6:10 10 So David would not move
the ark of the Lord
with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom
the Gittite.
YLT
10And David hath not been
willing to turn aside unto himself the ark of Jehovah
to the city of David
and David turneth it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite
So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the
city of David
.... As yet
but wait a little longer
until he had more
thoroughly considered of it
and made himself acquainted with everything
relative to the ark
that he might know how to behave for the future
without
giving offence:
but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite; which was
close by
on one side of the place where they were; this man was a Levite
as
appears from his being afterwards appointed to be doorkeeper for the ark
and
to sing praise before it
and so a proper person to commit the care of it to
1 Chronicles 15:18;
he is called a Gittite
either because he had sojourned in Gath some time
or
rather because he was of Gathrimmon
a city of the Levites
Joshua 21:24.
2 Samuel 6:11 11 The ark of the Lord remained in
the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed
Obed-Edom and all his household.
YLT
11and the ark of Jehovah doth
inhabit the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months
and Jehovah blesseth
Obed-Edom and all his house.
And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the
Gittite three months
.... David
and those with him
returned to their habitations
where they continued during this time:
and the Lord blessed Obededom
and all his household; him
and all
his family
with spiritual blessings
and with an affluence of temporal good
things; for godliness has the promise of this life
and of that which is to
come; men are not losers but gainers
even in things temporal
for their
attachment to the cause of religion
and the service of God
and their regard
to that in their own houses
as well as in the house of God. JosephusF15Antiqu.
l. 7. c. 4. sect. 2. says
that Obededom was very poor before
and in a low
condition
out of which he soon emerged
and came into affluent circumstances
so as to be taken notice of by his neighbours
and reported abroad; by which
means David came to the hearing of it
as follows.
2 Samuel 6:12 12 Now it was told King
David
saying
“The Lord
has 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 to the City of David with gladness.
YLT
12And it is declared to king
David
saying
`Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom
and all that he
hath
because of the ark of God;' and David goeth and bringeth up the ark of
God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David with joy.
And it was told King David
.... By some of his
courtiers who had heard of it:
saying
the Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom
and all that pertaineth
unto him
because of the ark of the Lord; it was so suddenly
in
so short a time
and so largely
that it could not escape the notice and
observation of men that knew him; and this increase was not in any natural way
by which it could be accounted for; so that it could be ascribed to no other
cause but the blessing of God
and that on account of the ark of God that was
with him; nothing else could be thought of:
so David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of
Obededom into the city of David with gladness: being animated and
encouraged by the blessing of God on the house of Obededom
because of it
and
thereby freed from those slavish fears he was before possessed of
and filled
with hopes of being blessed also on account of it; if not with temporal
blessings
he needed not
yet with spiritual ones.
2 Samuel 6:13 13 And so it was
when those
bearing the ark of the Lord
had gone six paces
that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
YLT
13And it cometh to pass
when
those bearing the ark of Jehovah have stepped six steps
that he sacrificeth an
ox and a fatling.
And it was so
that when they that bare the ark of the Lord
.... The
Levites; for now David had seen the former mistake
and rectified it
and
ordered the Levites to "carry" it
as they did upon their shoulders
with the staves therein
see 1 Chronicles 15:2;
when these
had gone six paces
he sacrificed oxen and fatlings; upon an
altar
which was at once erected for that purpose; the number and kind of
sacrifices offered were seven bullocks and seven rams
1 Chronicles 15:26;
and these David offered
not by himself
but by the priests that were with him
and that as soon as they had gone six paces from the house of Obededom; whereby
they perceived the Levites
were able to carry the ark
with what was in it
the Lord helping them
as in 1 Chronicles 15:2
and without stumbling and falling
or any evil attending them; and Kimchi
thinks these six paces were just the measure of the ground Uzzah went before
what befell him; but it is highly probable that he had gone further; however
no doubt by the order of David
the Levites set down the ark
and sacrifices
were offered by way of thanksgiving to God
and for the continuance of his goodness
and for atonement for former errors. Some think these seven oxen and rams were
offered
at seven different times and places
at every six paces an ox and a
ram; but this is not very likely.
2 Samuel 6:14 14 Then David danced before
the Lord
with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod.
YLT
14And David is dancing with
all strength before Jehovah
and David is girded with a linen ephod
And David danced before the Lord with all his might
.... That is
before the ark of the Lord; not a set dance
or along with others; but he
leaped and skipped as "car"
a lamb
does
and that for joy that the
ark was like to be brought home to his house
without any token of the divine
displeasure
as before; the Targum is
"he praised before the Lord with all
his might;'exerted himself to the uttermost in singing the praises of God
vocally
or by playing on an instrument; to which sense are the Septuagint
Syriac
and Arabic versions
which is approved of by CastelF16Lexic.
col. 1793. ; who observes
it nowhere appears to have been a custom to dance
before the ark; but it might be now done
though not usual
and therefore was
observed by Michal with contempt
2 Samuel 6:16; a
later writerF17Hackman. Praecidan. Sacr. p. 156
157. shows that
dancing is the proper sense of the word:
and David was girded with a linen ephod; which others
besides priests
sometimes wore
as Samuel did
and which David might choose to
appear in
rather than in his royal robes
as being more agreeable to the
service of God
and lighter for him both to walk and dance in on this occasion.
2 Samuel 6:15 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.
YLT
15and David and all the house
of Israel are bringing up the ark of Jehovah with shouting
and with the voice
of a trumpet
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the
Lord
.... The elders of Israel
and the captains over thousands
1 Chronicles 15:25;
besides the common people; there might be as large a number with him now as
before:
with shouting
and with the sound of the trumpet; with the
shouts of the people in common
and with blowing of trumpets by those who were
appointed for that purpose
and with other instruments of music
see 1 Chronicles 15:27;
Josephus saysF18Antiqu. l. 7. c. 4. sect. 2.
that seven choirs
went before the priests bearing the ark
as the king commanded
he himself
playing on the harp; so the Septuagint version.
2 Samuel 6:16 16 Now 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 whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in
her heart.
YLT
16and it hath come to pass
the ark of Jehovah hath come in to the city of David
and Michal daughter of
Saul
hath looked through the window
and seeth king David moving and dancing
before Jehovah
and despiseth him in her heart.
And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David
.... Being
brought thither on the shoulders of the Levites:
Michal
Saul's daughter
looked through a window; in the king's
palace
to see the procession
which was very grand
and in great pomp
attended by a vast number of people
and with music of all sorts. She is said
to be Saul's daughter
though David's wife
as having a good deal of her
father's haughty temper and disposition
as appears by what follows:
and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; the ark of
the Lord
by these outward gestures expressing the inward joy of his heart on
this occasion:
and she despised him in her heart; as acting a mean part
quite beneath himself
and unbecoming his royal dignity.
2 Samuel 6:17 17 So they brought the ark of
the Lord
and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected
for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
YLT
17And they bring in the ark
of Jehovah
and set it up in its place
in the midst of the tent which David
hath spread out for it
and David causeth to ascend burnt-offerings before
Jehovah
and peace-offerings.
And they brought in the ark of the Lord
.... Into the
city of David
the strong hold of Zion:
and set it in his place
in the midst of the tabernacle that David
had pitched for it: or "stretched out"; for this was not the tabernacle of
Moses
David pitched any where; that was at this time at Gibeon
where it
continued to the time of Solomon
1 Chronicles 21:29;
but this was a curtain
or curtains
which he had stretched out or drawn around
for the ark to be pitched in the midst of; and this was not in his own house
for he is afterwards said to go to that
but somewhere in Jerusalem or the city
of David:
and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the
Lord; that is
before the ark
and that by way of thanksgiving for its
being brought safe thither
without any error or mistake on the side of him
the Levites
and the people
and without offence to God
and any mark of his
displeasure as before. This must be supposed to be done by priests
and not by
David himself
who was no priest.
2 Samuel 6:18 18 And when David had
finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings
he blessed the people in
the name of the Lord
of hosts.
YLT
18And David finisheth from
causing to ascend the burnt-offering
and the peace-offerings
and blesseth the
people in the name of Jehovah of Hosts
And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings
and peace offerings
.... Or these were performed according to his order:
he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts; not as a
priest
but as a prince
as the common father of them
wishing them all
happiness and prosperity outward and inward
praying to God to bless them with
all blessings temporal and spiritual
who is the God of armies above and below
and can do what he pleases
and more than his people can ask or think.
2 Samuel 6:19 19 Then he distributed among
all the people
among the whole multitude of Israel
both the women and the
men
to everyone a loaf of bread
a piece of meat
and a cake of
raisins. So all the people departed
everyone to his house.
YLT
19and he apportioneth to all
the people
to all the multitude of Israel
from man even unto woman
to each
one cake of bread
and one eshpar
and one ashisha
and all the people go
each
to his house.
And he dealt among all the people
.... Gave a dole unto
them
divided among them:
even among the
whole multitude of Israel: and if there were so many as at first
there were thirty thousand of them
2 Samuel 6:1; and
perhaps more
since it follows:
as well to the women as men; to both the one and the
other; and the women
it is very probable
were not among those that went to
fetch the ark
but assembled to attend the entrance of it into the city
and
were present at the solemnities of its settlement:
to everyone a cake of bread; or a loaf of bread
of
what quantity is not said
no doubt sufficient for anyone person
or more:
and a good piece of flesh: not only that was good
in quality
but large in quantity
a very large piece of it; the Jews sayF19T.
Bab. Pesachim
fol. 36. 3. the sixth part of a bullock
they dividing it into
six parts as we into four quarters; but it is not likely that such a quantity
of flesh should be given to each person:
and a flagon of wine; but what such a vessel
held cannot be said
though at least we may suppose it equal to a bottle of
ours
or more; see Song of Solomon 2:5
so all the people departed everyone to his house; to refresh
themselves with the provisions David had given them.
2 Samuel 6:20 20 Then David returned to
bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David
and said
“How glorious was the king of Israel today
uncovering himself today
in the eyes of the maids of his servants
as one of the base fellows
shamelessly uncovers himself!”
YLT
20And David turneth back to
bless his house
and Michal daughter of Saul goeth out to meet David
and
saith
`How honourable to-day was the king of Israel
who was uncovered to-day
before the eyes of the handmaids of his servants
as one of the vain ones is
openly uncovered!'
Then David returned to bless his household
.... His wife
children
and servants
to wish all happiness to them on this occasion
and
pray to God for blessings on them temporal and spiritual. This was done when he
came from the place where the ark was set
and was come to his own palace:
and Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David; before he had
gotten quite to his own house:
and said
how glorious was the king of Israel today; which she
spoke in an ironical jeering way
meaning the reverse
how inglorious
mean
and despicable he had made himself to be
by his airs and gestures:
who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his
servants
as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself! because he
had put off his royal robes
and put on a linen ephod; for that he had stripped
himself naked cannot be supposed
nor do her words import so much though a
passionate exaggeration of the case.
2 Samuel 6:21 21 So David said to Michal
“It
was before the Lord
who chose me instead of your father and all his house
to appoint me ruler over
the people of the Lord
over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.
YLT
21And David saith unto
Michal
`-- Before Jehovah
who fixed on me above thy father
and above all his
house
to appoint me leader over the people of Jehovah
and over Israel
--
yea
I played before Jehovah;
And David said unto Michal
it was before the Lord
.... Before
the ark of the Lord
what was done was done there; she upbraided him with his
dancing and singing
which was designed for the honour and glory of God
and in
thankfulness to him for the bringing the ark to his city
and therefore she
ought not to have reproached him with it
and he adds:
which chose me before thy father
and before all his house; see 1 Samuel 13:14;
which he observed to humble her pride
and mortify her
as well as to remark
the distinguishing goodness of God to him
which laid him under obligation to
express his thankfulness to him in every shape:
to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord
over Israel; which was a
high honour conferred upon him
and required the utmost gratitude:
therefore will I play before the Lord; upon the
harp
or praise before him
as the Targum
sing his praise before the ark
unto
any instrument of music
without once imagining I disgrace myself
on the
contrary think it to be the highest honour to me to be employed in such
service.
2 Samuel 6:22 22 And I will be even more
undignified than this
and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the
maidservants of whom you have spoken
by them I will be held in honor.”
YLT
22and I have been more vile
than this
and have been low in mine eyes
and with the handmaids whom thou
hast spoken of
with them I am honoured.'
And I will yet be more vile than thus
.... If this
is to be vile
I will endeavour to be viler still; if to dance before the ark
and sing the praises of God
be reckoned a lessening of me
I will more and
more be found in doing such things
or what is similar to them:
and will be base in mine own sight: humble himself
and lie
low in his own eyes
admiring the grace and goodness of God to him
thinking he
could never condescend too low to exalt the Lord
and magnify the riches of his
goodness:
and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of
of them shall I
be had in honour; who the more humble I am
and the more I condescend
by laying
aside all state in acts of devotion and religion
the more shall I be honoured
and spoken well of by them.
2 Samuel 6:23 23 Therefore Michal the
daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
YLT
23As to Michal daughter of
Saul
she had no child till the day of her death.
Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day
of her death. The children she brought up for Adriel were not her own
but
adopted ones
or Adriel's by another woman
2 Samuel 21:8;
however
she had none after this time
whatever she had before
and it does not
appear that she had any
though the Jews say she was Eglah
and Ithream her
son; see Gill on 2 Samuel 3:5. And
thus she that vilified David brought a reproach upon herself
as barrenness was
always reckoned
and no one descending from her arrived to royal dignity
and
sat on the throne of David; and so it was ordered in Providence
as Abarbinel
observes
that the seed of David and of Saul might not be mixed.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)