2 Samuel 6:5

2 SAMUEL—NOTE ON 2 Samuel 6:5 Before the LORD, as in Exodus 28:29, means that the Lord himself was present above the ark (see note on 1 Sam. 4:3–4). Both 2 Samuel 6:5 and 1 Samuel 4:1 show that the ark was not just a symbol of God’s presence. Wherever the ark was, God manifested his presence in a special way, so the ark should not be treated lightly. with songs... cymbals. Music is part of worship in most societies, and it was an important part of Israelite worship. lyres and harps and tambourines. The lyre was basically a sound box with arms in a U-shape supporting a bar across the top. The lyre seems to have been considered the premier instrument. The harp was similar to today’s concert harp. The tambourine was similar to the modern tambourine, but without the small cymbals. The Hebrew word translated castanets appears only here in the Bible.