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2 Samuel 6-7
Common English Bible

God’s chest is brought to Jerusalem

6 Once again David assembled the select warriors of Israel, thirty thousand strong. 2 David and all the troops who were with him set out for Baalah, which is Kiriath-jearim of Judah,[a] to bring God’s chest up from there—the chest that is called by the name[b] of the Lord of heavenly forces, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures. 3 They loaded God’s chest on a new cart and carried it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were driving the new cart. 4 [c] Uzzah was beside God’s chest while Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 Meanwhile, David and the entire house of Israel celebrated in the Lord’s presence with all their strength, with songs,[d] zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

6 When they approached Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to God’s chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled.[e] 7 The Lord became angry at Uzzah, and God struck him there because of his mistake,[f] and he died there next to God’s chest. 8 Then David got angry because the Lord’s anger lashed out against Uzzah, and so that place is called Perez-uzzah today.[g]

9 David was frightened by the Lord that day. “How will I ever bring the Lord’s chest to me?” he asked. 10 So David didn’t take the chest away with him to David’s City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom, who was from Gath. 11 The Lord’s chest stayed with Obed-edom’s household in Gath for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that he had.

12 King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and everything he has because of God’s chest being there.”[h] So David went and brought God’s chest up from Obed-edom’s house to David’s City with celebration. 13 Whenever those bearing the chest advanced six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fatling calf. 14 David, dressed in a linen priestly vest,[i] danced with all his strength before the Lord. 15 This is how David and the entire house of Israel brought up the Lord’s chest with shouts and trumpet blasts.

16 As the Lord’s chest entered David’s City, Saul’s daughter Michal was watching from a window. She saw King David jumping and dancing before the Lord, and she lost all respect for him.[j]

17 The Lord’s chest was brought in and put in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered entirely burned offerings in the Lord’s presence in addition to well-being sacrifices. 18 When David finished offering the entirely burned offerings and the well-being sacrifices, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of heavenly forces. 19 He distributed food among all the people of Israel—to the whole crowd, male and female—each receiving a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. Then all the people went back to their homes.

20 David went home to bless his household, but Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How did Israel’s king honor himself today?” she said. “By exposing himself in plain view of the female servants of his subjects like any indecent person would!”

21 David replied to Michal, “I was celebrating before the Lord, who chose me over your father and his entire family, and who appointed me leader over the Lord’s people, over Israel—and I will celebrate before the Lord again! 22 I may humiliate myself even more, and I may be humbled in my own eyes, but I will be honored by the female servants you are talking about!”

23 Michal, Saul’s daughter, had no children to the day she died.

God’s promise to David

7 When the king was settled in his palace,[k] and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look! I’m living in a cedar palace, but God’s chest is housed in a tent!”[l]

3 Nathan said to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you are thinking, because the Lord is with you.”

4 But that very night the Lord’s word came to Nathan: 5 Go to my servant David and tell him: This is what the Lord says: You are not the one to build the temple for me to live in. 6 In fact, I haven’t lived in a temple from the day I brought Israel out of Egypt until now. Instead, I have been traveling around in a tent and in a dwelling. 7 Throughout my traveling around with the Israelites, did I ever ask any of Israel’s tribal leaders I appointed to shepherd my people: Why haven’t you built me a cedar temple?

8 So then, say this to my servant David: This is what the Lord of heavenly forces says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be leader over my people Israel. 9 I’ve been with you wherever you’ve gone, and I’ve eliminated all your enemies before you. Now I will make your name great—like the name of the greatest people on earth. 10 I’m going to provide a place for my people Israel, and plant them so that they may live there and no longer be disturbed. Cruel people will no longer trouble them, as they had been earlier, 11 when I appointed leaders over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.

And the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make a dynasty for you. 12 When the time comes for you to die and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your descendant—one of your very own children—to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a temple for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. Whenever he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod, with blows from human beings. 15 But I will never take my faithful love away from him like I took it away from Saul, whom I set aside in favor of you. 16 Your dynasty and your kingdom will be secured forever before me.[m] Your throne will be established forever.

17 Nathan reported all of these words and this entire vision to David.

David’s prayer

18 Then King David went and sat in the Lord’s presence. He asked:

Who am I, Lord God, and of what significance is my family that you have brought me this far? 19 But even this was too small in your eyes, Lord God! Now you have also spoken about your servant’s dynasty in the future and the generation to come,[n] Lord God!

20 What more can David say to you? You know your servant, Lord God. 21 For the sake of your word and according to your own will, you have done this great thing so that your servant would know it.

22 That is why you are so great, Lord God! No one can compare to you, no god except you, just as we have always heard with our own ears.

23 And who can compare to your people Israel? They are the one nation on earth that God redeemed as his own people, establishing his name by doing great and awesome things for them,[o] by driving out nations and their gods before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt.[p] 24 You established your people Israel as your own people forever, and you, Lord, became their God.

25 Now, Lord God, confirm forever the promise you have made about your servant and his dynasty. Do just as you have promised 26 so that your name will be great forever when people say, “The Lord of heavenly forces is Israel’s God!” May your servant David’s household be established before you, 27 because you, Lord of heavenly forces, Israel’s God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a dynasty for him. That is why your servant has found the courage to pray this prayer to you.

28 Lord God, you are truly God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. 29 So now willingly bless your servant’s dynasty so that it might continue forever before you, because you, Lord God, have promised. Let your servant’s dynasty be blessed forever by your blessing.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 6:2 DSS (4QSama), 1 Chron 13:6; MT from Baale-judah
  2. 2 Samuel 6:2 MT repeats name, but 1 Chron 13:6 omits one of these and LXX reads the first as there.
  3. 2 Samuel 6:4 LXX, DSS (4QSama), 1 Chron 13:7; MT repeats they carried it from the house of Abinadab on the hill; Uzzah has dropped out and must be restored.
  4. 2 Samuel 6:5 LXX, DSS (4QSama), 1 Chron 13:8; MT with all sorts of pine instruments
  5. 2 Samuel 6:6 Heb uncertain
  6. 2 Samuel 6:7 Heb uncertain; LXX lacks this phrase; cf Targ, Syr, 1 Chron 13:10 because he had placed his hand on the chest.
  7. 2 Samuel 6:8 Perez-uzzah means Uzzah-outbreak; cf 2 Sam 5:20.
  8. 2 Samuel 6:12 Heb lacks being there.
  9. 2 Samuel 6:14 Heb ephod
  10. 2 Samuel 6:16 Or despised him for it
  11. 2 Samuel 7:1 Or house; the same Heb word (beth) appears with different nuances (house, temple, palace, dynasty, family) in 7:2, 5, 6, 7, 11, 13, 16, 18, 19, 25-26, 27, 29.
  12. 2 Samuel 7:2 Or among curtains
  13. 2 Samuel 7:16 LXX (cf 7:26, 29); MT you
  14. 2 Samuel 7:19 Correction; Heb uncertain this is the law of humankind
  15. 2 Samuel 7:23 Or you (plural)
  16. 2 Samuel 7:23 LXX, 1 Chron 17:21; MT for your land before your people whom you redeemed for yourself from Egypt, the nations and their gods
Listen to 2 Samuel 6-7
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2 Samuel 6-7
New International Version

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem(A)(B)

6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 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. 3 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 4 with the ark of God on it,[c] and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating(J) with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,[d] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.(K)

6 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. 7 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.

8 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)

9 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)

7 After the king was settled in his palace(AL) and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies(AM) around him,(AN) 2 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)

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

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

5 “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) 6 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) 7 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)”’

8 “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) 9 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 4 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.
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