The big picture
2 Samuel 6 opens in verse 1 with “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and…”, and closes in verse 23 with “Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.” Repeated or prominent terms include David, LORD, house, Israel, edom. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Samuel · King James Version · 232 Samuel 6:1-8
1–8: Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty…
2 Samuel 6:1–8 opens with “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.” and reaches “And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 6 develops its own movement around David, LORD, house, Israel, edom, with particular weight carried by Uzzah, David, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“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…” Naming Abinadab and Ahio keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on…” Naming David and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Samuel 6:1-8
King James Version1Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2And 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.
3And 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.
4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And 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.
8And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.
2 Samuel 6:9-16
9–16: David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of…
2 Samuel 6:9–16 opens with “And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?” and reaches “And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 6 develops its own movement around David, LORD, house, Israel, edom, with particular weight carried by David, LORD, edom.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Samuel 6:9-16
King James Version9And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?
10So 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 Obed-edom the Gittite.
11And 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.
12And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, 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 Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.
13And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16And 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.
2 Samuel 6:17-23
17–23: They brought in the ark of the LORD , and set it in his place, in the…
2 Samuel 6:17–23 opens with “And they brought in the ark of the LORD , and set it in his place, in the midst of the…” and reaches “Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 2 Samuel 6 develops its own movement around David, LORD, house, Israel, edom, with particular weight carried by David, LORD, offerings.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And they brought in the ark of the LORD , and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
2 Samuel 6:17-23
King James Version17And 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 .
18And 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.
19And 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.
20Then 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!
21And 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 .
22And 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.
23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Samuel 6:1 begins with “Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Samuel 6:9 forms a natural hinge: “And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?”
The final note
2 Samuel 6:23 leaves the reader with “Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, LORD, house, Israel, edom, Obed help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.