6 David chose 30,000 of the best soldiers in Israel. 2 He took them with him to Baalah, a town in Judah. He wanted to bring God's Covenant Box from there to Jerusalem. The Israelites called it by the name of the Lord Almighty. He sits as King between the two cherubs that are on the top of the Covenant Box. 3 They put the Covenant Box on a new cart. They took it out of Abinadab's house which was on the hill. Abinadab's sons, Uzzah and Ahio, were leading the new cart 4 which had the Covenant Box on it. Ahio walked in front of the Covenant Box. 5 David and all Israel's people were singing and dancing with all their strength to praise the Lord . They made music with harps, lyres, tambourines, shakers and cymbals. [ a ]
6 They reached the place of Nacon's threshing floor. There the oxen that were pulling the cart almost fell. So Uzzah reached out to hold God's Covenant Box to stop it falling. 7 The Lord was very angry with Uzzah because he did not respect God's rules. [ b ] He immediately knocked Uzzah down to the ground. Uzzah died there, beside the Covenant Box.
8 David was angry because the Lord had punished Uzzah. So he called that place ‘Perez Uzzah’. That is still its name today. [ c ]
9 So David now became afraid of the Lord . He said, ‘The Lord 's Covenant Box is too holy to come with me!’ 10 He no longer wanted to take the Lord 's Covenant Box to the City of David to be with him there. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, who came from Gath. 11 The Lord 's Covenant Box stayed in Obed-Edom's house for three months. During that time, the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all the people in his house.
12 People told King David, ‘The Lord has blessed Obed-Edom's family and everything that belongs to him, because of the Covenant Box.’
So David went back to Obed-Edom's house. He was now happy to bring the Covenant Box from there to the City of David. 13 The men who were carrying it walked six steps and they stopped. Then David offered a bull and a fat calf as sacrifices to God. 14 David was wearing a linen ephod. [ d ] He danced with all his strength to worship the Lord . 15 He and all the Israelites brought the Lord 's Covenant Box to Jerusalem. They shouted and they made a loud noise with trumpets.
16 While they were bringing the Lord 's Covenant Box into the City of David, Saul's daughter Michal looked out through a window. She saw what King David was doing. He was jumping and dancing to worship the Lord . Michal felt ashamed of him.
17 David had put up a special tent for the Covenant Box, so they took it there. They put it in its place inside the tent. Then David offered burnt offerings and friendship offerings to the Lord .
18 After David had offered those sacrifices, he prayed that the Lord Almighty would bless the people. 19 Then he gave a gift to every man and woman in the crowd of Israelite people. Each person received a loaf of bread, some dates and some raisins. Then all the people went to their homes.
20 David returned to his home to bless his own family. As he arrived, Saul's daughter Michal came out to meet him. She said, ‘The king of Israel has brought honour to himself today, has he? No, he has brought shame on himself! Even your officers' slave girls have seen how stupid you are. You have made your body bare like a useless fool!’
21 David said to Michal, ‘I was worshipping the Lord with joy! It was the Lord who chose me to be the ruler of his people, Israel. He chose me instead of your father or any of his family. 22 I am ready to bring even more shame on myself. Even I will be ashamed of myself! But the slave girls that you spoke about will still give me honour!’
23 Saul's daughter Michal gave birth to no children all her life.
6 David again gathered all the best soldiers in Israel. There were 30,000 men. 2 Then David and all his men went to Baalah in Judah [ a ] to take God’s Holy Box there. The Holy Box is like God’s throne —people go there to call on the name of the Lord All-Powerful who sits as king above the Cherub angels that are on that Box. 3 David’s men brought the Holy Box out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. Then they put God’s Holy Box on a new wagon. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were driving the new wagon.
4 So they carried the Holy Box out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. The sons of Abinadab, Uzzah and Ahio, drove the new wagon. Ahio was walking in front of the Holy Box. 5 David and all the Israelites were dancing in front of the Lord and playing all kinds of musical instruments. There were lyres, harps, drums, rattles, instruments made from cypress wood, and cymbals. 6 When David’s men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and God’s Holy Box began to fall off the wagon. Uzzah caught the Holy Box. 7 But the Lord was angry with Uzzah and killed him for that mistake. Uzzah showed he did not honor God when he touched the Holy Box, so he died there by God’s Holy Box. 8 David was upset because the Lord had killed Uzzah. David called that place “Perez Uzzah.” [ b ] It is still called Perez Uzzah today.
9 David became afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can I bring God’s Holy Box here now?” 10 So David would not move the Lord ’s Holy Box into the City of David. He put the Holy Box at the house of Obed Edom from Gath. [ c ] 11 The Lord ’s Holy Box stayed in Obed Edom’s house for three months. The Lord blessed Obed Edom and all his family.
12 Later people told David, “The Lord has blessed the family of Obed Edom and everything he owns, because God’s Holy Box is there.” So David went and brought God’s Holy Box from Obed Edom’s house. David was very happy and excited. 13 When the men who carried the Lord ’s Holy Box had walked six steps, they stopped and David sacrificed a bull and a fat calf. 14 David was dancing in front of the Lord . He was wearing a linen ephod.
15 David and all the Israelites were excited—they shouted and blew the trumpet as they brought the Lord ’s Holy Box into the city. 16 Saul’s daughter Michal was looking out the window. While the Lord ’s Holy Box was being carried into the city, David was jumping and dancing before the Lord . Michal saw this, and she was upset at David.
17 David put up a tent for the Holy Box. The Israelites put the Lord ’s Holy Box in its place under the tent. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the Lord .
18 After David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord All-Powerful. 19 He also gave a share of bread, a raisin cake, and some date bread to every man and woman of Israel. Then all the people went home.
20 David went back to bless his house, but Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. She said, “The king of Israel did not honor himself today! You took off your clothes in front of your servants’ girls. You were like a fool who takes off his clothes without shame!”
21 Then David said to Michal, “The Lord chose me, not your father or anyone from his family. The Lord chose me to be leader of his people, the Israelites. So I will continue dancing and celebrating in front of the Lord . 22 I might do things that are even more embarrassing! Maybe you will not respect me, but the girls you are talking about are proud of me!”
23 Saul’s daughter Michal never had a child. She died without having any children.
6 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
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.
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.
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.
5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.
6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8 And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?
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 Obededom the Gittite.
11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.
12 And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obededom, 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 Obededom into the city of David with gladness.
13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord ; and she despised him in her heart.
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 .
18 And as soon 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.
19 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.
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 shamelessly uncovereth himself!
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 .
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.
23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.
6 ( A ) Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David [ a ] departed from [ b ] ( B ) Baale-judah, with all the people who were with him, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the ( C ) Name, the very name of the Lord of armies who ( D ) is [ c ] enthroned above the cherubim. 3 They had mounted the ark of God on ( E ) a new cart and moved it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart. 4 So ( F ) they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. 5 Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel ( G ) were celebrating before the Lord ( H ) with all kinds of instruments made of juniper wood, and with [ d ] lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
6 But when they came to the ( I ) threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah ( J ) reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen nearly overturned it . 7 And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and ( K ) God struck him down there for [ e ] his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 Then David became angry because [ f ] of the Lord ’ s outburst against Uzzah; and that place has been called [ g ] Perez-uzzah to this day. 9 So ( L ) David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10 And David was unwilling to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of ( M ) Obed-edom, the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord ( N ) blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
12 Now it was reported to King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, on account of the ark of God.” ( O ) So David went and brought the ark of God up from the house of Obed-edom to ( P ) the city of David with joy. 13 And so it was, that [ h ] when ( Q ) those carrying the ark of the Lord marched six paces, he sacrificed an ( R ) ox and a fattened steer. 14 And ( S ) David was dancing before the Lord with all his strength, and David was ( T ) wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with joyful shouting and the sound of the trumpet.
16 Then it happened, as the ark of the Lord was coming into the city of David, that ( U ) Michal the daughter of Saul looked down through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord ; and she was contemptuous of him in her heart.
17 Now they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it ( V ) in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it; and ( W ) David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord . 18 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, ( X ) he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of armies. 19 Further, he distributed to all the people, to all the multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a cake of bread, one of dates, and one of raisins to each one. Then all the people left, each to his house.
20 But when David returned to bless his own household, Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel dignified himself today! For ( Y ) he exposed himself today in the sight of his servants’ female slaves, as one of the ( Z ) rabble shamelessly exposes himself!” 21 But David said to Michal, “ ( AA ) I was before the Lord , who preferred me to your father and to all his house, to appoint me as ruler over the people of the Lord , over Israel. So I will [ i ] celebrate before the Lord ! 22 And I might demean myself even more than this and be lowly in my own sight, but with the female slaves of whom you have spoken, with them I am to be held in honor!” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. 2 He and all his men went to Baalah [ a ] ( C ) in Judah to bring up from there the ark ( D ) of God, which is called by the Name, [ b ] ( E ) the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned ( F ) between the cherubim ( G ) on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart ( H ) and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. ( I ) Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, [ c ] and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating ( J ) with all their might before the Lord , with castanets, [ d ] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. ( K )
6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of ( L ) the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord ’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; ( M ) therefore God struck him down, ( N ) and he died there beside the ark of God.
8 Then David was angry because the Lord ’s wrath ( O ) had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. [ e ] ( P )
9 David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How ( Q ) can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom ( R ) the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. ( S )
12 Now King David ( T ) was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed ( U ) a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, ( V ) David was dancing ( W ) before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts ( X ) and the sound of trumpets. ( Y )
16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, ( Z ) Michal ( AA ) daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord , she despised him in her heart.
17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, ( AB ) and David sacrificed burnt offerings ( AC ) and fellowship offerings before the Lord . 18 After he had finished sacrificing ( AD ) the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed ( AE ) the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins ( AF ) to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. ( AG ) And all the people went to their homes.
20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked ( AH ) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord , who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed ( AI ) me ruler ( AJ ) over the Lord ’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord . 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”
23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.
