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And David again 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-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, [a]which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that [b]sitteth above the cherubim. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in [c]the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in [d]the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of [e]fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with [f]castanets, and with cymbals.

And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen [g]stumbled. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his [h]error; and there he died by the ark of God. And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place [i]Perez-uzzah, unto this day. And David was afraid of Jehovah that day; and he said, How shall the ark of Jehovah come unto me? 10 So David would not remove the ark of Jehovah unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of Jehovah remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and Jehovah blessed Obed-edom, and all his house.

12 And it was told king David, saying, Jehovah hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with joy. 13 And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. 14 And David danced before Jehovah with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Jehovah with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 And it was so, as the ark of Jehovah came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah; and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of Jehovah, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before Jehovah. 18 And when David had made an end of offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Jehovah of hosts. 19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to every one a cake of bread, and a portion [j]of flesh, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed every one to his house.

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! 21 And David said unto Michal, It was before Jehovah, who chose me above thy father, and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel: therefore will I play before Jehovah. 22 And I will be yet more vile than this, and will be base in mine own sight: but of the handmaids of whom thou hast spoken, of them shall I be had in honor. 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

And it came to pass, when the king dwelt in his house, and Jehovah had given him rest from all his enemies round about, that the king said unto Nathan the prophet, See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwelleth within curtains. And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thy heart; for Jehovah is with thee. And it came to pass the same night, that the word of Jehovah came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah, Shalt thou build me a house for me to dwell in? for I have not dwelt in a house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, even to this day, but have walked in a tent and in a tabernacle. In all places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel, spake I a word with [k]any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to be shepherd of my people Israel, saying, Why have ye not built me a house of cedar? Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, I took thee from the [l]sheepcote, from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be [m]prince over my people, over Israel; and I have been with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee; and I will make thee a great name, like unto the name of the great ones that are in the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place, and be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as at the first, 11 and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I [n]will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. 12 When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; 15 but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. 16 And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. 17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

18 Then David the king went in, and sat before Jehovah; and he said, Who am I, O Lord Jehovah, and what is my house, that thou hast brought me thus far? 19 And this was yet a small thing in thine eyes, O Lord Jehovah; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant’s house for a great while to come; [o]and this too after the manner of men, O Lord Jehovah! 20 And what can David say more unto thee? for thou knowest thy servant, O Lord Jehovah. 21 For thy word’s sake, and according to thine own heart, hast thou wrought all this greatness, to make thy servant know it. 22 Wherefore thou art great, O Jehovah God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 [p]And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem unto himself for a people, and to make him a name, and to do great things for you, and terrible things for thy land, before thy people, whom thou redeemedst to thee out of Egypt, from the nations and their gods? 24 And thou didst establish to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever; and thou, Jehovah, becamest their God. 25 And now, O Jehovah God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, confirm thou it for ever, and do as thou hast spoken. 26 And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, Jehovah of hosts is God over Israel; and the house of thy servant David shall be established before thee. 27 For thou, O Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee a house: therefore hath thy servant [q]found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee. 28 And now, O Lord Jehovah, thou art God, and thy words are truth, and thou hast promised this good thing unto thy servant: 29 now therefore [r]let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee; for thou, O Lord Jehovah, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 6:2 Hebrew whereupon is called the Name.
  2. 2 Samuel 6:2 Or, is enthroned
  3. 2 Samuel 6:3 Or, Gibeah
  4. 2 Samuel 6:4 Or, Gibeah
  5. 2 Samuel 6:5 Or, cypress-wood
  6. 2 Samuel 6:5 Or, sistra
  7. 2 Samuel 6:6 Or, were restive. Or, threw it down
  8. 2 Samuel 6:7 Or, rashness
  9. 2 Samuel 6:8 That is, The breach of Uzzah.
  10. 2 Samuel 6:19 Or, of wine
  11. 2 Samuel 7:7 In 1 Chr. 17:6, any of the judges.
  12. 2 Samuel 7:8 Or, pasture
  13. 2 Samuel 7:8 Or, leader
  14. 2 Samuel 7:11 Or, have caused
  15. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or, and is this the law of man, O Lord Jehovah?
  16. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or, And who is like thy people, like Israel, a nation that is alone in the earth etc.
  17. 2 Samuel 7:27 Or, been bold
  18. 2 Samuel 7:29 Or, begin and bless

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(A)(B)

David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. He and all his men went to Baalah[a](C) in Judah to bring up from there the ark(D) of God, which is called by the Name,[b](E) the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned(F) between the cherubim(G) on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart(H) and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.(I) Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it,[c] and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating(J) with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,[d] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.(K)

When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of(L) the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act;(M) therefore God struck him down,(N) and he died there beside the ark of God.

Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath(O) had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[e](P)

David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How(Q) can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom(R) the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.(S)

12 Now King David(T) was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed(U) a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod,(V) David was dancing(W) before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts(X) and the sound of trumpets.(Y)

16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David,(Z) Michal(AA) 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.

17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,(AB) and David sacrificed burnt offerings(AC) and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing(AD) the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(AE) the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(AF) to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women.(AG) And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked(AH) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed(AI) me ruler(AJ) over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

God’s Promise to David(AK)

After the king was settled in his palace(AL) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(AM) around him,(AN) he said to Nathan(AO) the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house(AP) of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”(AQ)

Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind,(AR) go ahead and do it, for the Lord is with you.”

But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, saying:

“Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you(AS) the one to build me a house to dwell in?(AT) I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day.(AU) I have been moving from place to place with a tent(AV) as my dwelling.(AW) Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites,(AX) did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd(AY) my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house(AZ) of cedar?(BA)”’

“Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock,(BB) and appointed you ruler(BC) over my people Israel.(BD) I have been with you wherever you have gone,(BE) and I have cut off all your enemies from before you.(BF) Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth.(BG) 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant(BH) them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed.(BI) Wicked(BJ) people will not oppress them anymore,(BK) as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[f](BL) over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies.(BM)

“‘The Lord declares(BN) to you that the Lord himself will establish(BO) a house(BP) for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest(BQ) with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood,(BR) and I will establish his kingdom.(BS) 13 He is the one who will build a house(BT) for my Name,(BU) and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.(BV) 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son.(BW) When he does wrong, I will punish him(BX) with a rod(BY) wielded by men, with floggings inflicted by human hands. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him,(BZ) as I took it away from Saul,(CA) whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me[g]; your throne(CB) will be established(CC) forever.(CD)’”

17 Nathan reported to David all the words of this entire revelation.

David’s Prayer(CE)

18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said:

“Who am I,(CF) Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree,(CG) Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human![h]

20 “What more can David say(CH) to you? For you know(CI) your servant,(CJ) Sovereign Lord. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have done this great thing and made it known to your servant.

22 “How great(CK) you are,(CL) Sovereign Lord! There is no one like(CM) you, and there is no God(CN) but you, as we have heard with our own ears.(CO) 23 And who is like your people Israel(CP)—the one nation on earth that God went out to redeem as a people for himself, and to make a name(CQ) for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders(CR) by driving out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you redeemed(CS) from Egypt?[i] 24 You have established your people Israel as your very own(CT) forever, and you, Lord, have become their God.(CU)

25 “And now, Lord God, keep forever the promise(CV) you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, 26 so that your name(CW) will be great forever. Then people will say, ‘The Lord Almighty is God over Israel!’ And the house of your servant David will be established(CX) in your sight.

27 Lord Almighty, God of Israel, you have revealed this to your servant, saying, ‘I will build a house for you.’ So your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to you. 28 Sovereign Lord, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy,(CY) and you have promised these good things to your servant. 29 Now be pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever in your sight; for you, Sovereign Lord, have spoken, and with your blessing(CZ) the house of your servant will be blessed forever.”

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 6:2 That is, Kiriath Jearim (see 1 Chron. 13:6)
  2. 2 Samuel 6:2 Hebrew; Septuagint and Vulgate do not have the Name.
  3. 2 Samuel 6:4 Dead Sea Scrolls and some Septuagint manuscripts; Masoretic Text cart and they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill
  4. 2 Samuel 6:5 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint (see also 1 Chron. 13:8) songs
  5. 2 Samuel 6:8 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.
  6. 2 Samuel 7:11 Traditionally judges
  7. 2 Samuel 7:16 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts you
  8. 2 Samuel 7:19 Or for the human race
  9. 2 Samuel 7:23 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 17:21; Hebrew wonders for your land and before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt, from the nations and their gods.