20140425 Friday, April 25 2014
2 Samuel 06: The Ark Of The LORD In The City Of David

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The Ark of the LORD came into the City of David"

The Ark of the Covenant was made in the Sinai (see also Numbers 14: Why 40 Years In The Sinai?) during the time of Moses to house the second set of The Ten Commandments, within the Tabernacle (see Exodus 34: The Second Tables Of Stone and Exodus 37: The Tabernacle Furnishings). The Tabernacle was constructed at the same time (see Exodus 35: Offerings For The Tabernacle, Exodus 36: The Building Of The Tabernacle, Exodus 38: The Courtyard Of The Tabernacle, Exodus 39: The Needlework of Blue, Purple and Scarlet Linen and Exodus 40: The Glory Of The LORD In His Tabernacle).

The Ark was carried across the Jordan River at the head of the Israelite nation in the time of Joshua (see Joshua 3: The Crossing Of The Jordan and Joshua 4: Beachhead In The Promised Land). The Ark remained in the Tabernacle for the next two or three centuries - through the rest of the lifetime of Joshua, and through the period of the Judges (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Judges), until the time of Samuel (see Israel In History and Prophecy: Samuel) and Eli.

"18:1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them." (Joshua 18:1 KJV)

The Ark and the Tabernacle were permanently separated during a battle with the Philistines (see 1 Samuel 4: The Capture Of The Ark). When the Ark was recovered (see 1 Samuel 5: Why Did The Philistines Want To Return The Ark? and 1 Samuel 6: The Return Of The Ark), it was taken to "the house of Abinadab" where it remained through the entire civil war between David and Saul (see Israel In History and Prophecy: The Civil War).

"6:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you." (1 Samuel 6:21 KJV)

"7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim 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. 7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." (1 Samuel 7:1-3 KJV)

After the civil war, according to the command of the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God), David established the capital of the united Kingdom of Israel at Jerusalem. With his kingdom firmly established, David then sought to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.

"6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 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. 6:3 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. 6:4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 6:5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals." (2 Samuel 6:1-5 KJV)

The joyous occasion was marred when a man disregarded the Sacred Command to not touch the Ark - only specific, authorized Levites were permitted to do so (see Numbers 3: When Were The Levites Set Apart? and Numbers 4: The Levite Clans). If the Ark was shaken because the oxen stumbled, it was the responsibility of those Levites to attend to it - not any self-appointed individual.

"6:6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God." (2 Samuel 6:6-7 KJV)

The incident caused David to place the Ark "in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months." The moving of the Ark, by mandated Levites, was authorized by the LORD - as was its temporary placement there, so "the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household" while the proper Levites tended to it there.

"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.

6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. 6:11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household." (2 Samuel 6:8-11 KJV)

A few months later, David resumed the journey of The Ark to Jerusalem. This time, the joyous occasion was not spoiled by anyone's unlawful actions.

"6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness. 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 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." (2 Samuel 6:12-15 KJV)

David by then had numerous wives and children (see The Wives Of King David). Among them was Michal, the daughter of former King Saul. Michal did not approve of David's behavior before the Ark. Their marriage had been only a matter of politics from the start. The incident ended it.

"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.

6:17 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. 6:18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 6:19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

6:20 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 to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

6:21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

6:23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death." (2 Samuel 6:16-23 KJV)

Fact Finder: How were Levites always the servants of Jesus Christ?
See The Levites Of Christ