Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:19

Michal’s Contempt for David · 2 Samuel 6:16–23
Read 2 Samuel 6

Translations

Modern
Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.
Traditional
And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
Literal
And he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, from the men and to the women, to everyone, one loaf of bread, and one date cake, and one cake of raisins. And all the people departed, each to his house.
Latin
Et partitus est universæ multitudini Israël tam viro quam mulieri singulis collyridam panis unam, et assaturam bubulæ carnis unam, et similam frixam oleo: et abiit omnis populus, unusquisque in domum suam.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:19

David’s gifts of food to every Israelite anticipated other royal gifts they would receive while he was king.

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 Michal Celebration

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 15:29–16:3

People

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

Glossary

Date, Date Palm David Jerusalem Judah, Tribe of Kiriath-jearim Michal Music Raisin Cake Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Bread was Formed Into: Cakes Bread: How Prepared: Cakes David: King of Israel: Offers Sacrifice, Distributes Gifts, and Blesses the People Flagon: Erroneously Translated (Av) Flagon of Wine, but More Accurately, Cake of Raisin (Rv) Food: Articles of Meat Food: Articles of Wine Hospitality: David Jerusalem: The Ark of the Covenant Brought To, by David The Diet of the Jews: Articles Used for Flesh The Diet of the Jews: Articles Used for Wine