The chronology of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles seem straightforward based on casual reading. In the order presented, David becomes king over Israel, he takes Jerusalem, Hiram builds David a house, David brings the ark to Jerusalem, God makes His covenant with David, David fights against Ammonites, he sins against Bathsheba, Solomon is born, Amnon rapes Tamar, and Absalom rebels against David. However, the timing of these events doesn't line up.

Rather, these passages seem to group David's story into successes and failures. The strongest indication that the events are given thematically and not chronologically is that Hiram didn't begin reigning over Tyre until 980 BC, only nine years before David's death. The more literal sequence of events would be kingship, Jerusalem, Bathsheba, Solomon, Amnon and Tamar, Hiram, the ark, God's covenant, and then Absalom's rebellion. The only meaningful impact that has on this chapter is that David's palace was built closer to the end of his reign.

With David's throne established in Jerusalem and the Philistines driven from Israel's territory, David decides to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem (Exodus 25:10–22). When Samuel was a boy, the Philistines captured the ark during a battle (1 Samuel 4). God punished them, and they returned it (1 Samuel 6). The Israelites placed it in the home of Abinadab in Baale-judah, where it remained for twenty years. Afterward, it traveled with the "people," possibly referring to Saul's army (1 Samuel 14:18), before returning to Kiriath-jearim.

David plans a celebratory procession from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem. He gathers a massive crowd (1 Chronicles 13:5) to accompany the Levites. They load up the ark on a new ox cart. Ahio leads the cart, and Uzzah walks beside it. When they reach Nacon's threshing floor, the oxen stumble, Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, and God strikes him dead (2 Samuel 6:1–7).

David reacts with anger toward God's judgment and with fear of bringing the ark into his city. He leaves it in the home of Obed-edom. When David learns that the Lord is blessing Obed-edom's household, David changes his mind and resolves to bring the ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:8–12).

This time, David correctly follows God's commands for transporting the ark (Exodus 25:12–15). He goes further by offering a sacrifice every six steps along the way to Jerusalem. The people sing, shout, and play music, and David enthusiastically dances while wearing a priestly garment (2 Samuel 6:13–15).

When David and the procession reach the city, the Levites carry the ark into a special tent. David orders more sacrifices, both burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He blesses the people in the Lord's name and gives every man and woman a portion of food (2 Samuel 6:17–19).

Not everyone rejoices. Michal, David's first wife and the daughter of Saul, confronts him. She accuses him of disgracing his position. Her direct attack is on David's clothes: the relatively short and light ephod. She says this was inappropriate in front of servant girls. She mocks him as a vulgar man. However, her approach and David's reply suggest that her actual complaint was that David acted like a common Israelite rather than a distinguished king. David replies that he celebrates the same God who chose him as the king over Michal's own father and brothers. Her disapproval won't change how he worships. Scripture doesn't explain exactly why, but Michal never has children. This might be a judgment on her words. It may also be that a son from both David and Saul's line would have posed a political threat (2 Samuel 6:16, 20–23).

Later, David will notice that the tent he prepared for the ark looks shabby compared to the beautiful cedar palace King Hiram of Tyre built for him (2 Samuel 5:11–12). He asks Nathan the prophet if he should build a temple. Nathan asks God, and God says, no. But God will build David a "house": a lasting dynasty fulfilled when David's descendant Jesus takes the throne forever (2 Samuel 7).

The story of the ark's move to Jerusalem is recorded in greater detail in 1 Chronicles chapters 13 and 15. Michal's disapproval is mentioned in 1 Chronicles 15:29. In Psalm 68, David talks about the ark in Jerusalem.

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