Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:10

Uzzah Touches the Ark · 2 Samuel 6:5–11
Read 2 Samuel 6

Translations

Modern
So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Traditional
So 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.
Literal
And David would not turn aside to himself the ark of YHWH into the City of David, and David took it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Latin
Et noluit divertere ad se arcam Domini in civitatem David: sed divertit eam in domum Obededom Gethæi.

Original

Hebrew
English
So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:10

Obed-edom was a Levite (1 Chronicles 15:18, 21; 16:38; 26:4, 8, 15; 2 Chronicles 25:24). He lived in either the Philistine city of Gath or an Israelite town with a similar name (for example, Gath-rimmon, a city given to the Levites, Joshua 21:25).

2 Samuel 6:1–23

Except for a brief reference in 1 Samuel 14:18 (see note), the ark of the covenant does not appear again after 1 Samuel 7:1–2. In that passage, the Philistines returned the captured ark to Beth-shemesh, and it was later taken to Kiriath-jearim. There, the ark was placed in the home of Abinadab.

The ark’s long absence during the reign of Saul is significant. It shows that Saul did not seek the Lord and was spiritually insensitive (see 1 Chronicles 10:13–14; 13:3). During Saul’s forty-year reign, the ark played little or no role in Israel’s worship or leadership.

In contrast, David brought the ark to Jerusalem. By doing this, David publicly acknowledged the Lord as Israel’s true king in the new capital (see 2 Samuel 6:2). The ark’s arrival showed that Israel’s political center was now also a place of worship.

Theme notes and profiles

David Celebration The Ark of the Covenant

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 13:8–14

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Obed-edom: Gittite who housed the Ark

Places

Gath: Philistine city; home of Goliath; refuge for David

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant David Gittite Jerusalem Judah, Tribe of Kiriath-jearim Music Obed-Edom Samuel, Books of First and Second Temple

Topics

Ark of the Covenant: Removed from Kirjath-Jearim to the House of Obed-Edom Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Remains in the House of Obed-Edom David: King of Israel: David is Terrified, and Leaves the Ark at the House of Obed-Edom David: King of Israel: Uzzah is Struck Down when he Attempts to Steady the Ark of the Covenant Gath: Obed-Edom Belonged To Kirjath-Jearim: David Brings the Ark of the Covenant From Obed-Edom: A Korhite Levite: David Leaves the Ark of the Covenant With