Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:21

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

Translations

Modern
But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,
Traditional
And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.
Literal
And David said to Michal, “It was before YHWH, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of YHWH, over Israel. And I will play before the face of YHWH.
Latin
Dixitque David ad Michol: Ante Dominum, qui elegit me potius quam patrem tuum et quam omnem domum ejus, et præcepit mihi ut essem dux super populum Domini in Israël,

Original

Hebrew
English
But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD,

Notes

2 Samuel 6:21

David’s response to Michal may suggest the deeper reason for her anger. She may have resented David’s success because her father’s family was losing power and honor.

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

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Michal: Daughter of Saul; wife of David

Glossary

David Elect, Election Jerusalem Judah, Tribe of Kiriath-jearim Michal Music Ruler Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

David: King of Israel: Michal Rebukes Him for his Religious Enthusiasm Family: Infelicity in David and Michal Malice: David Toward Michal Michal: Ridicules David on Account of his Religious Zeal Retaliation: David on Michal Sarcasm: David's Reply to Michal's Irony Thankfulness: To God of David Women: Michal, in Her Derision of David's Religious Zeal