2 Samuel 6:21
ESV
And David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord — and I will celebrate before the Lord.
NIV
David said to Michal, "It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.
NASB
But David said to Michal, '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 celebrate before the Lord!
CSB
David replied to Michal, "It was before the Lord who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel. I will dance before the Lord,
NLT
David retorted to Michal, 'I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.
KJV
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.
NKJV
So David said to Michal, “ It was before the Lord, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the Lord.
What does 2 Samuel 6:21 mean?
David has spent months transferring the ark of the covenant from a house in Kiriath-jearim to his capital, Jerusalem. He assembled hundreds of officials, singers, and musicians (1 Chronicles 15). He offered countless sacrifices (2 Samuel 6:13). He joined the crowd, dancing and singing. He even wrote a new psalm (1 Chronicles 16:8–36).It's the dancing that upsets his wife, Michal (1 Samuel 19:11; 25:44; 2 Samuel 3:13). More specifically, she is angry about what David wore and who was watching. She sarcastically confronts him for wearing a short, sleeveless robe (2 Samuel 6:14) and dancing like a commoner in front of the female servants (2 Samuel 6:20).
David sounds quite controlled under the circumstances. He has just returned from celebrating a historic moment. He wants to bless his family with joy, including Michal. Instead of affirming him, she attacks his behavior and his character. David tells her he's concerned only with God's opinion. How he dances and what he wears are all for the Lord's sake. David wasn't seeking approval from the people, or his wife.
The rebuke is calm but pointed. David reminds Michal that the Lord chose him over her father (1 Samuel 18:20–21) and all her male relatives to become king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:13; 28:17). He will worship the God who chose him however he pleases. If that disgusts her, she can be disgusted while the common people show respect (2 Samuel 6:22).
