1: Again, David gathered together all the chosen
men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2: And David arose, and went with all
the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the
ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth
between the cherubims.
3: And they set the ark of God upon a new
cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah
and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
4: And they
brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the
ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5: And David and all the
house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir
wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on
cymbals.
6: And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put
forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
7: And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote
him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8: And
David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he
called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.
9: And David
was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to
me?
10: So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into
the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the
Gittite.
11: And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of
Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his
household.
12: And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath
blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the
ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of
Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.
13: And it was so,
that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed
oxen and fatlings.
14: And David danced before the LORD with all his
might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15: So David and all
the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the
sound of the trumpet.
16: And as the ark of the LORD came into the
city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king
David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17: And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place,
in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered
burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18: 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.
19: And he dealt
among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the
women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a
flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20: Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the
daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of
Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his
servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!
21: 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.
22: And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine
own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be
had in honour.
23: Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child
unto the day of her death.