Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:12

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem · 2 Samuel 6:12–15
Read 2 Samuel 6

Translations

Modern
Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing.
Traditional
And 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.
Literal
And it was told to King David, saying, “YHWH has blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that is unto him, because of the ark of God.” And David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with joy.
Latin
Nuntiatumque est regi David quod benedixisset Dominus Obededom, et omnia ejus, propter arcam Dei. Abiit ergo David, et adduxit arcam Dei de domo Obededom in civitatem David cum gaudio: et erant cum David septem chori, et victima vituli.

Original

Hebrew
English
Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:12

David reasoned that if God blessed Obed-edom simply for keeping the ark, then God would surely bless David for placing the ark in a special dwelling built for it in the capital city.

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 15:1–28

People

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

Glossary

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

Topics

Ark of the Covenant: Brought Into the City of David Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Set up in Jerusalem David: After Three Months, David Brings the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with Dancing and Great Joy Jerusalem: The Ark of the Covenant Brought To, by David Obed-Edom: A Korhite Levite: The Ark of the Covenant Removed From Zion: Called |The City of David| Zion: The Ark of the Covenant: Placed In