21 And David H1732 said H559 unto Michal, H4324 It was before H6440 the LORD, H3068 which chose H977 me before thy father, H1 and before all his house, H1004 to appoint H6680 me ruler H5057 over the people H5971 of the LORD, H3068 over Israel: H3478 therefore will I play H7832 before H6440 the LORD. H3068
But now thy kingdom H4467 shall not continue: H6965 the LORD H3068 hath sought H1245 him a man H376 after his own heart, H3824 and the LORD H3068 hath commanded H6680 him to be captain H5057 over his people, H5971 because thou hast not kept H8104 that which the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 thee.
And Samuel H8050 said H559 unto him, The LORD H3068 hath rent H7167 the kingdom H4468 of Israel H3478 from thee this day, H3117 and hath given H5414 it to a neighbour H7453 of thine, that is better H2896 than thou.
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Samuel, H8050 How long wilt thou mourn H56 for Saul, H7586 seeing I have rejected H3988 him from reigning H4427 over Israel? H3478 fill H4390 thine horn H7161 with oil, H8081 and go, H3212 I will send H7971 thee to Jesse H3448 the Bethlehemite: H1022 for I have provided H7200 me a king H4428 among his sons. H1121
And he sent, H7971 and brought him in. H935 Now he was ruddy, H132 and withal H5973 of a beautiful H3303 countenance, H5869 and goodly H2896 to look to. H7210 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 Arise, H6965 anoint H4886 him: for this is he.
And as the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 came H935 into the city H5892 of David, H1732 Michal H4324 Saul's H7586 daughter H1323 looked H8259 through a window, H2474 and saw H7200 king H4428 David H1732 leaping H6339 and dancing H3769 before H6440 the LORD; H3068 and she despised H959 him in her heart. H3820
And it came to pass, as the ark H727 of the covenant H1285 of the LORD H3068 came H935 to the city H5892 of David, H1732 that Michal H4324 the daughter H1323 of Saul H7586 looking out H8259 at a window H2474 saw H7200 king H4428 David H1732 dancing H7540 and playing: H7832 and she despised H959 him in her heart. H3820
He chose H977 David H1732 also his servant, H5650 and took H3947 him from the sheepfolds: H4356 H6629 From following H310 the ewes great with young H5763 he brought H935 him to feed H7462 Jacob H3290 his people, H5971 and Israel H3478 his inheritance. H5159 So he fed H7462 them according to the integrity H8537 of his heart; H3824 and guided H5148 them by the skilfulness H8394 of his hands. H3709
Then thou spakest H1696 in vision H2377 to thy holy one, H2623 and saidst, H559 I have laid H7737 help H5828 upon one that is mighty; H1368 I have exalted H7311 one chosen H977 out of the people. H5971 I have found H4672 David H1732 my servant; H5650 with my holy H6944 oil H8081 have I anointed H4886 him:
And G2532 when he had removed G3179 him, G846 he raised up G1453 unto them G846 David G1138 to be G1519 their king; G935 to whom G3739 also G2532 he gave testimony, G3140 and said, G2036 I have found G2147 David G1138 the son of Jesse, G2421 a man G435 after G2596 mine own G3450 heart, G2588 which G3739 shall fulfil G4160 all G3956 my G3450 will. G2307
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 2 Samuel 6
Commentary on 2 Samuel 6 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 6
The obscurity of the ark, during the reign of Saul, had been as great a grievance to Israel as the insults of the Philistines. David, having humbled the Philistines and mortified them in gratitude for that favour, and in pursuance of his designs for the public welfare, is here bringing up the ark to his own city, that it might be near him, and be an ornament and strength to his new foundation. Here is,
2Sa 6:1-5
We have not heard a word of the ark since it was lodged in Kirjath-jearim, immediately after its return out of its captivity among the Philistines (1 Sa. 7:1, 2), except that, once, Saul called for it, 1 Sa. 14:18. That which in former days had made so great a figure is now thrown aside, as a neglected thing, for many years. And, if now the ark was for so many years in a house, let it not seem strange that we find the church so long in the wilderness, Rev. 12:14. Perpetual visibility is no mark of the true church. God is graciously present with the souls of his people even when they want the external tokens of his presence. But now that David is settled in the throne the honour of the ark begins to revive, and Israel's care of it to flourish again, wherein also, no doubt, the good people among them had been careful, but they lacked opportunity. See Phil. 4:10.
2Sa 6:6-11
We have here Uzzah struck dead for touching the ark, when it was upon its journey towards the city of David, a sad providence, which damped their mirth, stopped the progress of the ark, and for the present, dispersed this great assembly, which had come together to attend it, and sent them home in a fright.
2Sa 6:12-19
We have here the second attempt to bring the ark home to the city of David; and this succeeded, though the former miscarried.
2Sa 6:20-23
David, having dismissed the congregation with a blessing, returned to bless his household (v. 20), that is, to pray with them and for them, and to offer up his family thanksgiving for this national mercy. Ministers must not think that their public performances will excuse them from their family-worship; but when they have, with their instructions and prayers, blessed the solemn assemblies, they must return in the same manner to bless their households, for with them they are in a particular manner charged. David, though he had prophets, and priests, and Levites, about him, to be his chaplains, yet did not devolve the work upon them, but himself blessed his household. It is angels' work to worship God, and therefore surely that can be no disparagement to the greatest of men.
Never did David return to his house with so much pleasure and satisfaction as he did now that he had got the ark into his neighbourhood; and yet even this joyful day concluded with some uneasiness, occasioned by the pride and peevishness of his wife. Even the palaces of princes are not exempt from domestic troubles. David had pleased all the multitude of Israel, but Michal was not pleased with his dancing before the ark. For this, when he was at a distance, she scorned him, and when he came home she scolded him. She was not displeased at his generosity to the people, nor did she grudge the entertainment he gave them; but she thought he degraded himself too much in dancing before the ark. It was not her covetousness, but her pride, that made her fret.
David was contented thus to justify himself, and did not any further animadvert upon Michal's insolence; but God punished her for it, writing her for ever childless from this time forward, v. 23. She unjustly reproached David for his devotion, and therefore God justly put her under the perpetual reproach of barrenness. Those that honour God he will honour; but those that despise him, and his servants and service, shall be lightly esteemed.