2 Samuel 6:2

2 Samuel 6:2

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.

a. NLT: He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim.

b. NIV: He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORDAlmighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark.

c. YLT: and David riseth and goeth, and all the people who are with him, from Baale-Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God, whose name hath been called -- the name of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs -- upon it.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And [he] arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah [Kiriath-jearim] to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, Who sits enthroned above the cherubim.

e. Septuagint: And David arose, and went, he and all the people that were with him, and some of the rulers of Juda, on an expedition [to a distant place], to bring back thence the ark of God, on which the name of the Lord of Host who dwells between the cherubs upon it is called.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: David and all the people that were with him arose and went forth from Baale-judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, which is called by [its] name: “The Name of HASHEM, Master of Legions, Who is enthroned upon the Cherubim, is upon it.”

1. “And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah…”

a. And David [1732 * David; rarely (fully); Daviyd] [Strong: from the same as 1730; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse:--David.]

b. arose [6965 * quwm] [Strong: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative):--abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-)rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-)stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, - rising).]

c. and went with [3212 * yalak] [Strong: a primitive root (Compare 1980); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses):--X again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, + follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, + pursue, cause to run, spread, take away ((-journey)), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, X be weak.

d. all the people [5971 * `am] [Strong: from 6004; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock:--folk, men, nation, people.]

e. that were with him [No Hebrew]

f. from Baale of Judah [1184 * Ba`aley Yhuwdah] [Strong: from the plural of 1167 and 3063; masters of Judah; Baale-Jehudah, a place in Palestine:--Baale of Judah.] [Outline of Biblical Usage: a place in Judah named for the Baalim, also known as Kirjath-jearim, Kirjath-baal; modern Kuriet el Enab]

2. “…to bring up from thence the ark of God…”

a. to bring up [5927 * `alah] [Strong: a primitive root; to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative (as follow):--arise (up), (cause to) ascend up, at once, break (the day) (up), bring (up), (cause to) burn, carry up, cast up, + shew, climb (up), (cause to, make to) come (up), cut off, dawn, depart, exalt, excel, fall, fetch up, get up, (make to) go (away, up); grow (over) increase, lay, leap, levy, lift (self) up, light, (make) up, X mention, mount up, offer, make to pay, + perfect, prefer, put (on), raise, recover, restore, (make to) rise (up), scale, set (up), shoot forth (up), (begin to) spring (up), stir up, take away (up), work.]

b. from thence [No Hebrew]

c. the ark [727 * 'arown; or laron] [Strong: from 717 (in the sense of gathering); a box:--ark, chest, coffin.]

d. of God [430 * 'elohiym] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

3. “…whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.”

a. whose name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

b. is called [7121 * qara'] [Strong: a primitive root (rather identical with 7122 through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(- ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.]

c. by the name [8034 * shem] [Strong: a primitive word (perhaps rather from 7760 through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; Compare 8064); an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character:--+ base, (in-)fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.]

d. of the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

e. of hosts [6635 * tsaba'; or (feminine) tsbadah] [Strong: from 6633; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship):--appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).]

f. that dwelleth [3427 * yashab] [Strong: a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle), (down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.]

g. between the cherubims [3742 * kruwb] [Strong: of uncertain derivation; a cherub or imaginary figure:--cherub, (plural) cherubims.]

1). The following comparative passage from 1 Chronicles sheds a little more light on this passage.

a). 1 Chronicles 13:1-5 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

13:2 And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:

13:3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.

13:4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

13:5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

a). From this passage in 1 Chronicles 13 we can see that David consulted with every leader. It clearly says the priests and Levites were also invited and probably consulted. As we shall see in later verses, everyone was consulted except God. They failed to see what God’s word said in the matter, they failed to be obedient to what God had ordained should be the proper way to transport the Ark.

2). The Ark had been in Kirjathjearim for a long time. How long we don’t exactly know. We do know that it was taken by the Philistines while Samuel was a young man and already had a teaching ministry over all Israel that required him to travel over the nation (1 Samuel 4:1-11). The ark was in the possession of the Philistines for 7 months (1 Samuel 6:1), after the Philistines got rid of it, it was brought by the Israelites to Kirjiath-jearim (1 Samuel 7:1). Samuel was already an old man when Israel began demanding a king (1 Samuel 8:1-5), how old we don’t know. Samuel at this time already had a family and his sons were grown and were appointed judges in Israel. They were probably in their thirties. It was then Saul was made king (1 Samuel 9, 10), and Saul reigned 40 years (Acts 13:21). David reigned 7 years in Hebron and then reigned 33 years in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:5) and it was only after David was ruling from Jerusalem the the first attempt to move the Ark was done. When all the unexact chronology is considered we are probably looking at over 70 years, but again no one knows exactly.

3). There is not agreement whether or not Abinadad was a Levite, some say he was and others say he was not. What is interesting is that Eleazar, the son of Abinadab who was charged with taking care of the Ark for the time the Ark was in his father’s house, was not involved with transporting the Ark. Abinadab’s two other sons, Uzzah and Ahio were there. The text does not say if he died or anything. My opinion is that the men of Kirjath-jearim had the sense to make sure the Ark was brought to the house of a priest. More later.