2 Samuel 6:13

2 Samuel 6:13

And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

a. NLT: After the men who were carrying the Ark of the LORD had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

b. NIV: When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

c. YLT: And it cometh to pass, when those bearing the ark of Jehovah have stepped six steps, that he sacrificeth an ox and a fatling.

d. Amplified Bible Classic:  And when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

e. Septuagint: And there were with him bearing the ark seven bands, and for a sacrifice a calf and lambs. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Whenever the bearers of the Ark walked six paces, He slaughtered an ox and a fatted ox.

1. “And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces…”

a. And it was so, that when [No Hebrew]

b. they that bare [5375 * nasa'; or nacah] [Strong: a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absol. and rel. (as follows):--accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable (+ man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, X needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, + swear, take (away, up), X utterly, wear, yield.]

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

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

1). As previously noted, under 2 Samuel 6:12, David recognized the error that he and the Levites committed in not following God’s instructions concerning carrying the Ark resulted in the death of Uzzah. Also within the passage of 1 Chronicles 15 we see David exhorting the Levites to sanctify themselves in preparation of bearing the Ark.

a). 1 Chronicles 15:11, 12 And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,

15:12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

(1) sanctify [6942 * qadash ][Gesenius: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate, to set apart as sacred, consecrate, dedicate.][Strong: to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally):--appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), X wholly.]

(2) As Strong’s defines the word it means to among other things to “purify” oneself, to be “ceremonially or morally” pure.

2). In Isaiah there is an exhortation to those who bear the vessels of the Lord to be clean.

a). Isaiah 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

3). In light of this, let’s switch gears and go the  New Covenant to a passage of Scripture that quotes part of the verse we just looked at in Isaiah.

a). 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

b). The sum of this concerning those who carry the presence of God is we must live clean holy lives.

e. had gone [6805 * tsa`ad] [Strong: a primitive root; to pace, i.e. step regularly; (upward) to mount; (along) to march; (down and causatively) to hurl:-- bring, go, march (through), run over.]

f. six [8337 * shesh; masculine shishshah] [Strong: a primitive number; six (as an overplus (see 7797) beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth:--six((-teen, -teenth)), sixth.]

g. paces [6806 * tsa`ad] [Strong: from 6804; a pace or regular step:--pace, step.]

1). No matter what version is looked at, it appears that when they went six steps they sacrificed an ox and a fatling or a fatted calf. In 2 Chronicles there is a comparative verse that needs to be inserted here.

2). 1 Chronicles 15:26 And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams.

a). helped [5826 * ‘azar][Gesenius: to help, succour, support, to help, to be helped, to help.][Strong: to surround, i.e. protect or aid:--help, succour.]

b). [Amplified Bible] And when God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord [with a safe start], they offered seven bulls and seven rams.

c). [New Living Translation]   And because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark of the LORD's Covenant, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

3). My personal opinion is that there is something supernaturally special about the phrase, “when God helped the Levites that bare the Ark of the LORD”. The following statements merely touch on what I believe was a much more supernatural event. Is it possible that there was such an obvious demonstration of God’s power in that the Levites had to exercise such little effort in bearing the Ark that they felt they should offer the sacrifices? The very next verse recounts how David danced “with all his might”. Could it be that David realizing that God was pleased with this second attempt because they were being obedient to the Word that his response was to dance with all his might? I believe it is!

a). Family Bible Notes: by enabling them to carry the ark in safety to its place without suffering any calamity, such as that which had befallen Uzzah.

b). John Wesley’s Notes: Encouraging them in their work with some comfortable sign of his presence with them.  In all our religious exercises, we must derive help from heaven. God's ministers that bare the vessels of the Lord, have special need of divine help in their ministrations, that God may be glorified thereby, and the people edified.

c). Matthew Poole’s Commentary: By giving them strength to carry their burden…By encouraging them in their work with some comfortable sign of his presence with them…

2. “…he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.”

a. he sacrificed [2076 * zabach] [Strong: a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice):--kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.]

b. oxen [7794 * showr] [Strong: from 7788; a bullock (as a traveller):--bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for 7791).

c. and fatlings [4806 * mriy'] [Strong: from 4754 in the sense of grossness, through the idea of domineering (Compare 4756); stall-fed; often (as noun) a beeve:--fat (fed) beast (cattle, -ling).

1). As was the Old Covenant so is the New but so much more, that is the help and grace to be obedient and fulfill the word of God in our lives.

a). 2 Corinthians 6:1, 2 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2). Jesus said that without Hime we could do nothing except shrivel up and die.

a). John 15:4, 5 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.