2 Samuel 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._ It was told king David ... The lapse of three months, which had proved that the ark could be kept without either danger or inconvenience, not only restored the agaitated mind of the monarch to a tranquil and settled tone, but led to a discovery of his former error. Having learned that the ark was kept in its temporary resting-place, not only without inconvenice or danger, but with great advantage, he resolved fothwith to remove it to the capital, with the observance of all due form and solemnity (1 Chronicles 15:1). It was transported now on the shoulders of the priests, who had been carefully prepared for the work,

12-19 It became evident, that happy was the man who had the ark near him. Christ is indeed a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those that believe, he is a Corner-stone, elect, precious, 1 Peter 2:6. Let us be religious. Is the ark a blessing to others' houses? We may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it away from our neighbours. David, at first setting out, offered sacrifices to God. We are likely to speed in our enterprises, when we begin with God, and give diligence to seek peace with him. And we are so unworthy, and our services are so defiled, that all our joy in God must be connected with repentance and faith in the Redeemer's atoning blood. David attended with high expressions of joy. We ought to serve God with our whole body and soul, and with every endowment and power we possess. On this occasion David laid aside his...

Verse 2 Samuel 6:12. _SO DAVID - BROUGHT UP THE ARK_] The _Vulgate_ adds to this verse: _And David had seven choirs, and a calf for a sacrifice_. The _Septuagint_ make a greater addition: "And he had seven choirs carrying the ark, a sacrifice, a calf, and lambs. And David played on harmonious organs before the Lord; and David was clothed with a costly tunic; and David and all the house of Israel, brought the ark of the Lord with rejoicing, and the sound of a trumpet." Nothing of this is found in any MS., nor in the _Chaldee_, the _Syriac_, nor the _Arabic_, nor in the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 15:25....

WITH GLADNESS - Especially with joyful music and song (1 Chronicles 15:16, etc.)....

EXPOSITION 2 SAMUEL 6:1 AND DAVID GATHERED TOGETHER. The long subjection to the Philistines was at an end, and David's first care is to bring the ark of Jehovah from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem. In this he had a twofold object. For, first, it was an act of piety, testifying David's gratitude to God, who had so quickly raised him from the condition of a despairing fugitive hiding away in the cave of Adullam to that of a victorious king reigning over an independent and free people. But David had also a political purpose. The weakness of Israel in the past was the result of its divisions, he would heal this by giving it a capital, whither the tribes would come up for worship, and where they would feel that they formed one nation. David had seen the evils of a divided sovereignty, when he and Ishbosheth were wasting the strength of Israel in

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 acco...

3. THE ARK BROUGHT TO ZION CHAPTER 6 _ 1. The ark fetched by David (2 Samuel 6:1)_ 2. Uzzah: his error and death (2 Samuel 6:6) 3. The ark in the house of Obed-edom (2 Samuel 6:10) 4. The ark brought into David's city (2 Samuel 6:12) 5. Michal's mockery of David (2 Samuel 6:20) It is of importance to read 1 Chronicles 13 for a better understanding of how the ark was brought from Kirjathjearim to David's c

2 SAMUEL 6. DAVID BRINGS THE ARK TO JERUSALEM. MICHAL'S SCORN. HER PUNISHMENT (J). (_Cf._ p. 286.) Nothing has been heard of the Ark since 1 Samuel 7:2, before the accession of Saul. The introduction of the Ark in I S 2 Samuel 14:18, is due to corruption of the text. This silence is sometimes accounted for by supposing that the Ark was under the control of the Philistines and inaccessible to the Israelites (_cf._ Cent.B, and EBi, Ark). David's action gave added importance to the new capital; and the building of Solomon's Temple probably provided Jerusalem with the chief sanctuary in Israel. 2 SAMUEL 6:1. David and the people go to Baal, or Baalah, Judah (not Baale), to fetch the Ark. This place is

PERTAINETH. Authorized Version (1611) reads "pertained". BROUGHT UP THE ARK. Compare 1 Chronicles 15:3....

Removal of the Ark from the house of Obed-edom to Jerusalem 12. _So David went_ Some Latin and a few Greek MSS. soften the abruptness of the text by inserting before this sentence the words, "And David said, I will go and bring back the Ark with blessing unto my house;" but they are in all probability only a gloss. _with gladness_ i.e. festal rejoicings; jubilant shouts and songs....