Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Samuel 6

AGain David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel , thirty thousand.

The stoutest, and valiantest Men in his Army and Land; lest the Philistines should attempt to disturb them in this work.

2 And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him , from Baale of Judah , to bring up from thence the ark of God , whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts , that dwelleth between the cherubims.

With the whole body of the People: for these seem to be a differing Party from the 30000 now mentioned. See 1 Chron. 13. 1, 2.

Qu. How from it, when they went to it; as is evident, both from 1 Chron. 13. 6. and because the Ark was there, and to be fetched thence? Answ. Some Affirm, That the Hebrew Praeposition Mem, sometimes signifies to, as Gen. 13. 11. But there is no need of that: for, 1 Chron. 13. 6. mentions their going to Baalah; and this place mentions their going from it; and the one of these doth manifestly suppose the other: for they went thither, that they might return thence. So the sence is plain, They went from Baaleh of Iudah, to bring (or rather to carry; for the Word signifies either) up from thence the ark. Whereby it is supposed, that they first went thither, which is related 1 Chron. 3. 6. Moreover, this place is commonly called Kiriath-jearim, 1 Sam. 7. 1. and 1 Chron. 13. 5. and formerly, Kiriath-baal, Iosh. 15. 60. and Baalah, Iosh. 15. 9. and here Baale of Iudah, so called, because it was in the Tribe of Iudah, as is evident from Iosh. 15. 1, &c.

Unto Ierusalem, which in many respects was fitter for it than Baalah; because this was a more Publick place, where it would be more observed and regarded; and in the Center of the Kingdom, to which they might more easily come from all parts; and the Royal City, where it might be always at hand for David to enquire at, as occasion required; and the place which God had allotted for it.

Thus whose, belongs not to the Ark, but to God: for what follows is not the name of the Ark, but of God. The place may well be, and is by some rendred thus, Upon (or At, or Beside, or Before,) which (Ark) the name, even the name of the Lord of hosts, that dwelleth between the Cherubims is called upon: i. e. By, or before which, they were to present their Prayers to God for Counsel and Succour upon all occasions. And this is mentioned here as the reason why David put himself and his people to so great trouble and charge, because it was to fetch up the choicest Treasure which they had, and so the benefit would abundantly recompence the inconvenience.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 13. 5, 6.; Or, on which the name, even the name of the LORD of hosts was called upon.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart , and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah : and Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab , drave the new cart.

Being taught, and encouraged to do so, by the Example of the Philistines, who did so without any token of Gods displeasure upon them for so doing. But they did not sufficiently consider, that God might wink at the Philistines, because they were ignorant of God's Laws; and yet be angry with them for the same thing, because they knew, or might, and should have known the Law of God, which commanded the Priests to bear it upon their shoulders, Numb. 4. 14, 15. and 7. 9. But their present transports of Joy at the happy Change of their Affairs, and their greedy desire of having the Ark removed, made them hasty and inconsiderate.

Or, on the hill, as 1 Sam. 7. 1.

For Abinadab himself seems now to have been dead; or at least, detained at home through infirmity or indispensable occasions.

Marginal references: Heb. made to ride; See 1 Sam. 6. 7.; Or, the hill.; Or, his brother. So Gr.

4 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 .

To lead the Oxen that drew it.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 7. 1.; Heb. with

6 ¶ And when they came to Nachons threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it, for the oxen shook it .

Otherwise called Chidon, 1 Chron. 13. 9.

For they stumbled, 1 Chron. 13. 9.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 13. 9.; See Num. 4. 15.; Or, stumbled, or, threw it down; 2 King. 9. 33.

7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God smote him there for his errour , and there he died by the ark of God.

With some deadly Disease or Stroke, as it follows.

Either, 1. For his touching the Ark, when he was no Levite, as Iosephus reports; nor indeed was Kiriath-jearim a Levitical City: or, that being but a Levite, he touched the bare Ark, which onely the Priests might do, Numb 4. 15. and 18. 3. And though the Ark was ordinarily covered, yet it is not impossible but the covering might be either loose, and so blown aside by the Wind; or worn out, and so he might touch the Ark it self. Or, 2. Because he put the Ark into a Cart, and thereby exposed it to the danger of falling, which would have been a great discouragement to the Israelites, and a reproach to the Ark. And though Ahio also might have an hand in putting it into the Cart, yet Uzzah onely is smitten; either, because he was the Elder Brother, and the person to whose care the Ark was more especially committed; or, because he was the chief Author of this counsel of putting it into a Cart; or, because he added a new fault of touching the Ark, and that out of distrust of God's care over it.

This may seem very severe, considering that his Intention was pious, and his Transgression not great. But, besides that, Men are very improper Judges of the Actions of God; and that Gods Judgements are always just, though sometimes obscure: there are many things to be said of this, and such like cases. 1. That it is fit and reasonable, that God should make some persons Examples of his just and high Displeasure against Sins, seemingly small; partly, for the demonstration of his own exact and impartial Holiness; partly, for the Establishment of Discipline, (for which very reason, even Earthly Princes have oft-times Inflicted great Punishments for small Offences;) and for the greater Terrour and Caution of Mankind, who are very prone to have slight thoughts of Sin, and to give way to small Sins, and thereby to be led on to greater; all which is, or may be prevented by such instances of Severity: and consequently, there is more of God's Mercy, than of his Justice, in such Actions, because the Justice is consined to one particular person, but the Mercy and benefit of it publick and common to Mankind of that, and all future Ages. 2. That God is justly most severe in those things which immediately concern his Worship and Service; and against those persons who have the nearest Relation to him, and the greatest opportunities of Knowing, and the highest obligations of careful Practising those Duties which they neglect: See Levit. 10. 3. 3. That this Punishment possibly was not so great, as it may seem to be; for as for his Body, the Disease, though dangerous, might not be exceedingly painful: and for his Soul, the stroke probably was not so sudden, [illegible: 1 word] not to give him space of Repentance.

Marginal references: Or, rashness.

8 And David was displeased , because the LORD had made a breach uppon Uzzah: And he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day.

Or, grieved, both for the sin, which he acknowledgeth, 1 Chron. 15. 2, 13. and for Gods heavy Judgment; whereby their hopes were dashed, and their joys interrupted, and a good subject struck dead for the circumstantial error of a Pious mind, which he might possibly think harsh and very severe, and therefore be displeased or offended at this sharp Providence.

Marginal references: Heb. had broken.; That is, the breach of Uzzah.

9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come unto me ?

Either, that God was displeased with him for removing the Ark, and bringing it to his City: or lest God should proceed further in the way of his Judgments upon him and his people: or, lest the Ark being brought to his House, might be the occasion of inconveniencies and great calamities for some neglects or errors which they might easily and frequently commit.

How may I presume, or how shall I dare do it, when God hath shewed his displeasure for my attempting it? I will therefore wait further upon God for his direction in the case, and at present forbear. But why did not David consult God presently by the Urim, as he used to do? This therefore seems to have been his infirmity and neglect.

10 So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David▪ but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite .

Which doubtless was done by the consent and desire of the owner of it, who for the enjoyment of so great a Priviledge, was willing to expose himself to some hazard; and wisely considered, that the late Judgment was not to be imputed to the Ark, but to Uzzah's carelesness in managing it.

He was certainly a Levite, 1 Chron. 15. 18, 21, 24. and 16. 5. and 26. 4. and here called a Gittite, Either, First, From Gath of the Philistines, where he or his Father might be Born or have Sojourned, which might be upon divers occasions: Or, Secondly, From Gath-rimmon, which was a Levitical City, Ios. 21. 24, 25.

Marginal references: Josh. 21. 24 1 Chr. 13. 13.

11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom, and all his houshold .

With happy Success in all their Affairs and Actions.

12 ¶ And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom , into the city of David, with gladness.

Understanding that the Ark was entertained without danger or inconvenience, and with great advantage, he apprehended his former mistake, and brought it to himself.

Which is thought to have been either in Ierusalem, or very near it.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 15. 25.

13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD, had gone six paces , he sacrificed oxen and fatlings .

With safety and comfort.

Upon an Altar suddenly erected, as was usual in such cases. See Exod. 20. 24. This he did, either, to appease God for the former miscarriage: or, to praise him for his present mercy, that he had not made another breach upon them: or, to implore his favour and gracious presence with them in this great Affair.

Marginal references: See 1 [illegible: 1 word] 15. 26.

14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might, and David was girded with a linen ephod .

To express his inward joy and thankfulness to God by his outward carriage, according to the manner of those times. See Exod. 15. 20. Iudg. 11. 34. and 21. 21. 1 Sam. 18. 6. Psal. 149. 3. and 150. 4.

The usual Habit of the Priests and Levites, in their Sacred Ministrations, yet sometimes worn by others, as it was by the young Child Samuel, 1 Sam. 2. 18. before he was come to those years in which the Levites were allowed to Minister; and so hereby David, who laid by his Royal Robes, and put on this Robe to signify and declare, that although he was King of Israel, yet he willingly owned himself to be the Lords Minister and Servant.

16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Sauls daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart .

As one of a base and mean spirit, that knew not how to carry himself with that Majesty which became his place, but behaved himself like one of the Fools or vain Persons in Israel.

17 ¶ And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had † pitched for it : and David offered burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings before the LORD.

For Moses his Tabernacle was still at Gibeon, 1 Chron. 16. 39. and 21. 29. and 2 Chron. 1. 3. which David left there, because he designed to build a Temple at Ierusalem with all speed, though he was countermanded therein by God himself.

Marginal references: 1 Chr. 16. 1.; ‡ Heb. stretched.

18 And assoon as David had made an end of offering burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.

i. e. He heartily and solemnly prayed to God for his Blessing upon them: which he did both as Prophet, and as their King, to whom by office it belongs, by all means, to seek his Peoples welfare.

Marginal references: 1 Chron. 16. 2.

20 ¶ Then David returned to bless his household: and Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants , as one of the vain fellows shamefully uncovereth himself!

Either, First, by stripping himself of his Royal Robes, that he might put on a Levitical Ephod: or, by discovering some part of his Thighs or Legs, as might possibly happen whilst he danced with all his might, as is said above ver. 14. considering that the men did then wear loose Garments. Or, she speaks thus, not that he did so, but onely by way of aggravation of his fault, and to vilify him the more, as is usual with persons in such cases.

Who either bare a part in the Solemnity, as Women sometimes did, Exod. 15. 20. or, at least were spectators of it, and of David's carriage in it.

As idle and light persons use to do.

Marginal references: Or, openly.

21 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.

In his presence and service, which though contemptible to thee, is, and ever shall be honourable in mine eyes.

Which took away the honour from him and his, and transferred it upon me, whereby he hath obliged me to Love and Serve him with all my might.

22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight : and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour .

I will always be ready to humble and abase my self before God.

I shall rather chuse to get honour from the meanest of my people, in serving and praising God, than to gain esteem from thee by my lukewarmness in Gods service.

Marginal references: Or, of the [illegible: 1+ letters]andmaids of my servants.

23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child until the day of her death .

Not because of David's words to her, which have nothing in them to this purpose; but because of her proud, and petulant, and ungodly speech and carriage to David, which God justly punished with sterility.

To wit, by David, and after this time, which these words evidently respect. Which was true, although those five Children ascribed to Michal, 2 Sam. 21. 8. were hers by Birth, and not by Adoption onely.

i. e. Never: for if she ever had any, it must be before her death. Compare 1 Sam. 15. 35. Matth. 1. 25.