2 Samuel 6:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts

NIV: After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord Almighty.

NASB: When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of armies.

CSB: When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Armies.

NLT: When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

KJV: And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

NKJV: And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

David has led a joyful procession to chaperone the ark of the covenant to its new home in Jerusalem. He commissioned singers and musicians, priests, and elders (1 Chronicles 15:24). Every six paces, the Levites sacrificed an ox and a fattened animal (2 Samuel 6:17).

Ever the poet, David writes words for a new song, reminding the Israelites why they should trust the God of angel armies:

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
O offspring of Israel his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
-–1 Chronicles 16:8–13, ESV

To end the festivities, David sends the people home with cake, meat, and raisins. God has provided and blessed the people; as God's anointed leader, David does the same.

Not everyone is celebrating, however. David's wife Michal watches the party from her window. She sees David dancing wildly, wearing nothing but an ephod in front of the whole crowd: including the humblest servant girls. She's embarrassed and disgusted with his undignified behavior and tells him so when he gets home (2 Samuel 6:16, 20–23).

Second 2 Samuel 6:16–19 continues a celebration over the ark of the covenant. In the time of the priest Eli, Philistines took the ark of the covenant (1 Samuel 4:11). They returned it, and it sat in Baale-judah / Kiriath-jearim for twenty years (1 Samuel 7:1–2). Then it apparently traveled with the army (1 Samuel 14:18). David wants God's presence closer, so he brought the ark to Jerusalem. The entire journey is filled with sacrifices and celebration, and now David adds feasting. Michal, however, isn't impressed by David's "vulgar" behavior. First Chronicles 15:29—16:1–3 records the same information, while 16:4–42 gives more detail, including David's psalm.

In 2 Samuel 6, David decides to bring the ark of God (Exodus 25:10–22) to Jerusalem. This includes an enormous crowd and a great procession. Unfortunately, he doesn't follow the Mosaic law, and a man dies for inappropriately touching the ark. David leaves the ark at a house for three months before trying again. Moving the symbol of God's presence into the nation's capital delights everyone except David's first wife, Michal. She is disgusted by David's undignified enthusiasm. The same events are noted in 1 Chronicles 13 and 15.

David has established himself as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5). In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of the covenant reaches Jerusalem. Since its first home in Shiloh, it's been captured by Philistines, sent back home, housed in Kiriath-jearim, carried with the army, and returned to Kiriath-jearim (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4, 6; 7:1–2; 14:18). David first puts the ark on a cart, but the cart wobbles and God strikes dead the man who tries to save it. Eventually, Levites carry the ark to Jerusalem properly. Soon, David decides that God deserves a proper temple and asks if he can build one (2 Samuel 7).

Second Samuel continues the story of David, who will become king over Judah. The other tribes of Israel are resistant, eventually sparking a civil war. David wins and makes Jerusalem his capital. Early success is followed by moral failure and controversy in David's house. The book of 1 Kings will begin by detailing David's decline and death.