A new cart - Every thing used in the worship of God was hallowed or set apart for that purpose: a new cart was used through respect, as that had never been applied to any profane or common purpose. But this was not sufficient, for the ark should have been carried on the shoulders of the priests; and the neglect of this ceremony was the cause of the death of Uzzah. read more
On all manner of instruments made of fir wood - This place should be corrected from the parallel place, 1 Chronicles 13:8 ; : "All Israel played before God, with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries," etc. Instead of עצי בכל bechol atsey , "with all woods" or "trees;" the parallel place is עז בכל bechol oz . "with all their strength:" this makes a good sense, the first makes none. The Septuagint, in this place, has the verse... read more
Uzzah put forth his hand - In Numbers 4:15-20 , the Levites are forbidden to touch the ark on pain of death, this penalty was inflicted upon Uzzah, and he was the first that suffered for a breach of this law. read more
Smote him there for his error - Uzzah sinned through ignorance and precipitancy; he had not time to reflect, the oxen suddenly stumbled; and, fearing lest the ark should fall, he suddenly stretched out his hand to prevent it. Had he touched the ark with impunity, the populace might have lost their respect for it and its sacred service, the example of Uzzah must have filled them with fear and sacred reverence; and, as to Uzzah, no man can doubt of his eternal safety. He committed a... read more
EXPOSITION And David gathered together. The long subjection to the Philistines was at an end, and David's first care is to bring the ark of Jehovah from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem. In this he had a twofold object. For, first, it was an act of piety, testifying David's gratitude to God, who had so quickly raised him from the condition of a despairing fugitive hiding away in the cave of Adullam to that of a victorious king reigning over an independent and free people. But David had... read more
( 1 Chronicles 13:1-6 ). ( JERUSALEM .) The ark sought after long neglect. 1 . The ark was the central point of the religion of Israel. In this sacred chest were deposited the two tables of the Law (the testimony, the great document of the covenant); on it rested the covering ( kapporeth ) propitiatory ( LXX .), expiatory (Vulgate), or mercy seat (Authorized Version), "above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat," whereon the invisible King of Israel, the Lord... read more
The facts are: 1 . David, deeming the time to be come for reorganizing the religious services, raises a select force wherewith to bring the ark from its obscurity at Kirjath-jearim. 2 . Providing a new cart, the ark is set thereon, and brought out of the house of Abinadab under charge of his two sons. 3 . David and the people move in joyous procession before the ark to music from all manner of instruments. 4 . Arriving at a certain place, Uzzab, putting forth his hand to steady... read more
From Baale of Judah. We learn from Joshua 15:9 , Joshua 15:60 that Baalah, or Kirjath-Baal, "the city of Baal," was the old Canaanite name of Kirjath-jearim, the "city of woods." It lay about eight miles westward from Jerusalem (see 1 Samuel 6:21 ; 1 Samuel 7:1 , 1 Samuel 7:2 ). The preposition "from" is very startling, as really David went to Baale. Yet all the versions have it, but they put on Baale an incorrect meaning. Baal means "lord," "master," and they render, "David went... read more
And they set the ark of God (Hebrew, made it ride ) upon a new cart. This was contrary to the Levitical Law, which required that only Levites should bear the ark, and that it should be veiled even from their eyes ( Numbers 4:15 ). But this mistake is not surprising. It is easy enough for us to turn to our Bibles, and see what the exact letter of a command was. But such reference was no easy matter when the Law was contained in manuscripts which were rare and costly. We cannot... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 6:2
From Baale of Judah - This is supposed to be the same city which, in Joshua 15:60 , is called Kirjah-baal or Kirjath-jearim; (see 1 Chronicles 13:6 ;); or Baalah, Joshua 15:9 . Whose name is called by the name of the Lord - That is, The ark is called the ark of the Lord of hosts. But this is not a literal version; the word שם shem , Name, occurs twice together; probably one of them should be read שם sham , There. There the name of the Lord of hosts... read more