Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:15

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

Modern
…while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.
Traditional
So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
Literal
And David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of YHWH with shouting and with the voice of the shofar.
Latin
Et David et omnis domus Israël ducebant arcam testamenti Domini in jubilo, et in clangore buccinæ.

Original

Hebrew
English
…while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:15

In 2 Samuel 15:10, rams’ horns announce the crowning of a new king. In 2 Samuel 20:1, they announce rebellion. Here, the horns celebrate placing the ark in its own tent (see study note on 2 Samuel 6:17). This action symbolically placed Yahweh’s throne in Jerusalem.

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 Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant David Jerusalem Judah, Tribe of Kiriath-jearim Music Musical Instruments 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 Dancing: General Scriptures Concerning 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 Music: The Jews Used in Sacred Processions Trumpet: At the Bringing up of the Ark of the Covenant from the Household of Obed-Edom