Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:4

David Fetches the Ark · 2 Samuel 6:1–4
Read 2 Samuel 6

Translations

Modern
…bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.
Traditional
And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
Literal
…bringing with it the ark of God, and Ahio went before the face of the ark.
Latin
Cumque tulissent eam de domo Abinadab, qui erat in Gabaa, custodiens arcam Dei Ahio præcedebat arcam.

Original

Hebrew
English
…bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:3–4

  • According to God’s instructions, the ark was to be carried by Levites from the clan of Kohath. They were to lift it using two poles placed through four rings at the corners of the ark (Exodus 25:14; 37:5; Numbers 4:6). In this event, the people did not follow God’s instructions.

  • Uzzah and Ahio: In 1 Samuel 7:1, Eleazar, another son of Abinadab, was responsible for taking care of the ark.

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 13:1–7

People

Abinadab: Kept the ark of God in his house Ahio: Son of Abinadab, accompanied the ark from Kiriath-jearim

Glossary

Ahio Ark of the Covenant David Gibeah Jerusalem Judah, Tribe of Kiriath-jearim Music Samuel, Books of First and Second Temple Uzzah

Topics

Abinadab: A Levite, in Whose House the Ark of God Rested Twenty Years Ahio: A Levite, Who Drove the Cart Bearing the Ark of the Covenant 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 at the House of Abinadab Bullock: Uses of with Wagons David: Assembles Thirty-Thousand Men to Escort the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem with Music and Thanksgiving Kirjath-Jearim: David Brings the Ark of the Covenant From Miracles: Catalogue of The Death of Uzzah Music: The Jews Used in Sacred Processions