2 Samuel 6:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Samuel 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 Sam. 7:1, 2), except that, once, Saul called for it, 1 Sam. 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 6:3

And they set the ark of God upon a new cart ,.... Which was a great mistake, since it ought not to have been put upon a cart, old or new; it was to be borne upon men's shoulders, and carried by Levites only, and those of the family of Kohath, to whom no wagons were given, when others had them, for the above reason, Numbers 7:9 ; it is strange that so many priests and Levites, and of the people of Israel gathered together on that account, and David also, so well versed in the law of God,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Samuel 6:4

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was at Gibeah ,.... That is, the new cart, which is the last thing spoken of, 2 Samuel 6:3 ; and the bringing of the ark out of his house is mentioned before; though some take this to be the coffer in which were the presents of the Philistines, which was now brought out along with the ark, see 1 Samuel 6:8 , accompanying the ark of God ; or "with the ark of God" F6 עם ארון האלהים "cum arca Dei", Pagninus, Montanus,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Samuel 6:3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 6:1-11

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 6:3

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 6:3-5

( 1 Chronicles 13:7 , 1 Chronicles 13:8 ). ( KIRJATH - JEARIM .) The ark brought out of deep obscurity. The enterprise was marked by— I. A GREAT DISCOVERY . "We found it in the fields of the wood" ( Psalms 132:6 ). 1 . An invaluable treasure, long hidden, from view; like the "treasure hid in a field," and the "pearl of great price" ( Matthew 13:44-46 ). 2 . A significant memorial of God's mercies in times past. What manifold and mighty events would be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Samuel 6:4

Accompanying (Hebrew, with ) the ark. The verse is evidently corrupt, and we have no aid from the parallel place in Chronicles, except the fact that it is omitted there. The most probable explanation is that the first half of the verse has been repeated from 2 Samuel 6:3 by the error of some copyist, and that the original words were "Uzzah and Ahio drove the new cart with the ark of God, and Ahio went before the ark." While Uzzah walked at the side, Ahio went before the oxen to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Samuel 6:3

The house of Abinadab in Gibeah - . Rather, on the hill (as in margin and 1 Samuel 7:1). It does not at all follow that Abinadab was still alive, nor can we conclude from Uzzah and Ahio being called sons of Abinadab, that they were literally his children. They may well have been sons of Eleazar and grandsons of Abinadab, or yet more remote descendants; since there is no distinct evidence that Abinadab was alive even when the ark was brought to Kirjath-jearim. The house may have retained the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Samuel 6:3

2 Samuel 6:3 . And they set the ark of God upon a new cart Which ought to have been carried upon the shoulders of the Kohathites, Numbers 7:9; for which reason, no wagons, were allowed to them, as there were to the rest of the Levites, to carry several parts of the tabernacle. “It is matter of astonishment to me,” says Delaney, “how David and all the priests and people could fall into so great an error, and deviate so strangely from the plain precepts of the law of God in this point, which... read more

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