Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:11

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

Translations

Modern
Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And the ark of YHWH remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and YHWH blessed Obed-edom and all his house.
Latin
Et habitavit arca Domini in domo Obededom Gethæi tribus mensibus: et benedixit Dominus Obededom, et omnem domum ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:11

God blessed Obed-edom with health, prosperity, and family. God’s presence, which is a curse to the ungodly (1 Samuel 5)is a blessing to his people. Obed-edom must have taken care to preserve the ark's holiness.

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

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 Blessing: Temporal, from God: To 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 Kirjath-Jearim: David Brings the Ark of the Covenant From