2 Samuel 6:9

Translations

Modern

That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”

Traditional

And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

Literal

And David was afraid of YHWH that day, and he said, “How can the ark of YHWH come to me?”

Latin

Et extimuit David Dominum in die illa, dicens: Quomodo ingredietur ad me arca Domini?

Original

Hebrew

English

That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?”

Notes

2 Samuel 6:9

David feared: Like David, Moses responded with fear when God showed his anger (Deuteronomy 9:19). Moses also trembled when God revealed his powerful and fiery presence (see Hebrews 12:21).

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

Reign of David

Related verses

Psalm 119:120
My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments.
1 Chronicles 13:11–12
Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.
1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell upon the earth? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain You, much less this temple I have built.
Numbers 17:12–13
Then the Israelites declared to Moses, “Look, we are perishing! We are lost; we are all lost!
1 Samuel 5:10–11
So they sent the ark of God to Ekron, but as it arrived, the Ekronites cried out, “They have brought us the ark of the God of Israel in order to kill us and our people!”
1 Samuel 6:20
The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?”
Luke 5:8–9
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
Job 25:5–6
If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight,
Isaiah 6:5
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
1 Peter 3:6
…just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

Parallels

1 Chronicles 13:8–14

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

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

Topics

Ark of the Covenant: Removed from Kirjath-Jearim to the House of Obed-Edom Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord Ark: in the Tabernacle--Called the Ark of the Covenant: Remains in the House of Obed-Edom David: King of Israel: David is Terrified, and Leaves the Ark at the House of Obed-Edom David: King of Israel: Uzzah is Struck Down when he Attempts to Steady the Ark of the Covenant Kirjath-Jearim: David Brings the Ark of the Covenant From

2 Samuel 6:9

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Related verses

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