וַיֹּסֶף עוֹד דָּוִד אֶת כָּל בָּחוּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שְׁלֹשִׁים אָלֶף

David again gathered all the chosen of Israel, thirty thousand; a large group of select members of the people.

וַיָּקָם וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד וְכָל הָעָם אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ מִבַּעֲלֵי יְהוּדָה לְהַעֲלוֹת מִשָּׁם אֵת אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא שֵׁם שֵׁם ה' צְבָאוֹת יֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים עָלָיו

David and all the people who were with him from the noblemen [baalei] of Judah rose and went. Alternatively, they came from Kiryat Ye’arim, also known as Baala, which was in the territory of Judah. Most of the people with David were from there. David called upon them to take up from there to the City of David the Ark of God, upon which is called the name, the name of the Lord of hosts, who is seated amidst the cherubs. Alternatively, the first mention of “name” in this sentence means honor, and the verse is referring to the honor of the name of the Lord of hosts that resides upon the cherubs. David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolized the Divine Presence in Israel, to a permanent and more respectable location, near his own home.

וַיַּרְכִּבוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים אֶל עֲגָלָה חֲדָשָׁה וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ מִבֵּית אֲבִינָדָב אֲשֶׁר בַּגִּבְעָה וְעֻזָּא וְאַחְיוֹ בְּנֵי אֲבִינָדָב נֹהֲגִים אֶת הָעֲגָלָה חֲדָשָׁה

They mounted the Ark of God onto a new cart, one that was whole and had not come in contact with any object of ritual impurity, and was therefore considered fit for carrying the ark. The ark had previously been returned by the Philistines in a cart, and this might have been the same vehicle. It is characterized as new because certain modifications were added, rendering it a new vessel in terms of the laws of ritual impurity. It is prohibited in Torah law to transport the ark in this manner, as it is supposed to be carried by Levites on their shoulders.And they conveyed it from the house of Avinadav, which was on the hill, and Uza and Ahyo, sons of Avinadav, were directing the new cart.

וַיִּשָּׂאֻהוּ מִבֵּית אֲבִינָדָב אֲשֶׁר בַּגִּבְעָה עִם אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וְאַחְיוֹ הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן

The procession advanced as follows: They conveyed it, the cart, from the house of Avinadav, which was on the hill, with the Ark of God, and Ahyo was walking before the ark, with Uza following right behind it.

וְדָוִד וְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מְשַׂחֲקִים לִפְנֵי ה' בְּכֹל עֲצֵי בְרוֹשִׁים ובְכִנֹּרוֹת וּבִנְבָלִים וּבְתֻפִּים וּבִמְנַעַנְעִים וּבְצֶלְצֶלִים

David and the entire house of Israel were reveling before the Lord with all kinds of juniper wood, branches of juniper trees that they waved as an expression of joy, a common practice at celebrations. Alternatively, this refers to percussion instruments. They also played music with harps, with lyres, with drums, with timbrels, and with cymbals.

וַיָּבֹאוּ עַד גֹּרֶן נָכוֹן וַיִּשְׁלַח עֻזָּא אֶל אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאחֶז בּוֹ כִּי שָׁמְטוּ הַבָּקָר

They came to a place called the threshing floor of Nakhon, and Uza extended his hand to the Ark of God and grasped it, since the oxen slipped. The movement of the cattle caused the ark to tilt to one side, and its fall seemed imminent. Instinctively, Uza rushed to grab hold of the ark.

וַיִּחַר אַף ה' בְּעֻזָּה וַיַּכֵּהוּ שָׁם הָאֱלֹהִים עַל הַשַּׁל וַיָּמָת שָׁם עִם אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים

The wrath of the Lord was enflamed against Uza, as even Levites are prohibited from touching the ark. It was permitted to carry the ark only by holding the bars that were attached to it for this purpose. And God smote him there for the error, and he died there near the Ark of God.

וַיִּחַר לְדָוִד עַל אֲשֶׁר פָּרַץ ה' פֶּרֶץ בְּעֻזָּה וַיִּקְרָא לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא פֶּרֶץ עֻזָּה עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

David was distressed because on that day, when all Israel were celebrating the procession of God’s ark, the Lord had lashed out in a breach [peretz] against Uza, killing him through divine intervention; and he therefore called that place, the threshing floor, Peretz Uza, and it is known by that name to this day.

וַיִּרָא דָוִד אֶת ה' בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא וַיֹּאמֶר אֵיךְ יָבוֹא אֵלַי אֲרוֹן ה'

David feared the Lord on that day, because of the death caused directly by the ark; and he said: How can the Ark of the Lord come to me?

וְלֹא אָבָה דָוִד לְהָסִיר אֵלָיו אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' עַל עִיר דָּוִד וַיַּטֵּהוּ דָוִד בֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם הַגִּתִּי

David was unwilling to transfer the Ark of the Lord to him, to the City of David, and David diverted it to the house of Oved Edom the Gitite, a Levite who later served with his sons in the Temple.

וַיֵּשֶׁב אֲרוֹן ה' בֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם הַגִּתִּי שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אֶת עֹבֵד אֱדֹם וְאֶת כָּל בֵּיתוֹ

The Ark of the Lord stayed in the house of Oved Edom the Gitite for three months, and the Lord blessed Oved Edom and his entire household. The divine blessing was noticeable in his household, as many children were born to his family.

וַיֻּגַּד לַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד לֵאמֹר בֵּרַךְ ה' אֶת בֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ בַּעֲבוּר אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֵּלֶךְ דָּוִד וַיַּעַל אֶת אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים מִבֵּית עֹבֵד אֱדֹם עִיר דָּוִד בְּשִׂמְחָה

It was told to King David, saying: The Lord has blessed the house of Oved Edom and everything that is his, due to the Ark of God. Until then, the ark had been considered a dangerous object, in accordance with the verse: “It was when the ark traveled, Moses said: Arise Lord, and may Your enemies be dispersed.” For this reason the ark had been previously brought into the war against the Philistines, where it was captured in battle. However, it was now discovered that the ark could also be a source of divine blessing. David went and took up the Ark of God from the house of Oved Edom to the City of David with rejoicing, in a grand ceremony.

וַיְהִי כִּי צָעֲדוּ נֹשְׂאֵי אֲרוֹן ה' שִׁשָּׁה צְעָדִים וַיִּזְבַּח שׁוֹר וּמְרִיא

This time the ark was carried on people’s shoulders, rather than by cart. It was when the bearers of the Ark of the Lord walked six paces, that he, David, would slaughter a bull and a fatling, a fattened ox. Since the journey was not long, after every six steps they stopped and offered animals.

וְדָוִד מְכַרְכֵּר בְּכָל עֹז לִפְנֵי ה' וְדָוִד חָגוּר אֵפוֹד בָּד

David was so happy that he was dancing before the Lord, not quietly, or in a restrained manner, but with all his might, in a state of great excitement. He even performed a solo dance, in his role as the king of Israel and the host of the celebration. And David was not wearing his royal garments, but was girded with a linen ephod, a kind of skirt that was somewhat similar to the priestly vestment. He wore the attire of a simple servant of God.

וְדָוִד וְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל מַעֲלִים אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' בִּתְרוּעָה וּבְקוֹל שׁוֹפָר

David and all the house of Israel were taking up the Ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sounding of the shofar.

וְהָיָה אֲרוֹן ה' בָּא עִיר דָּוִד וּמִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל נִשְׁקְפָה בְּעַד הַחַלּוֹן וַתֵּרֶא אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד מְפַזֵּז וּמְכַרְכֵּר לִפְנֵי ה' וַתִּבֶז לוֹ בְּלִבָּהּ

It was as the Ark of the Lord was entering the City of David that Mikhal daughter of Saul, who had returned to the active role of David’s wife, peered through the window. She did not participate in the celebration, which was apparently a men’s affair, but she watched the procession, probably along with other women. And she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord like a youngster or a lowly fellow, and she felt contempt for him in her heart.

וַיָּבִאוּ אֶת אֲרוֹן ה' וַיַּצִּגוּ אֹתוֹ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ בְּתוֹךְ הָאֹהֶל אֲשֶׁר נָטָה לוֹ דָּוִד וַיַּעַל דָּוִד עֹלוֹת לִפְנֵי ה' וּשְׁלָמִים

They brought the Ark of the Lord, and they set it in its place within the tent that David had pitched for it, an enclosed place that David had designated for the ark; and David offered up burnt offerings before the Lord, and peace offerings. Since there was no permanent Tabernacle or Temple at the time, all were permitted to offer sacrifices, not just priests. Therefore, David probably performed the service himself.

וַיְכַל דָּוִד מֵהַעֲלוֹת הָעוֹלָה וְהַשְּׁלָמִים וַיְבָרֶךְ אֶת הָעָם בְּשֵׁם ה' צְבָאוֹת

David concluded offering up the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, and he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

וַיְחַלֵּק לְכָל הָעָם לְכָל הֲמוֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל לְמֵאִישׁ וְעַד אִשָּׁה לְאִישׁ חַלַּת לֶחֶם אַחַת וְאֶשְׁפָּר אֶחָד וַאֲשִׁישָׁה אֶחָת וַיֵּלֶךְ כָּל הָעָם אִישׁ לְבֵיתוֹ

In addition to a verbal blessing, David also gave gifts to all the participants. He distributed to all the people, to the entire multitude of Israel who were present, both men and women, to each, several food items to take home: one loaf of bread, one portion of beef, a portion of the meat of the oxen that had been offered after every six steps, and one raisin cake, a food or drink made of grapes, perhaps a jug of wine. Afterward, the entire people went, each to his home. This concluded the ceremony of the transfer of the Ark of God to the City of David. Although it was not yet placed in a permanent home, at least the ark was no longer in a remote spot, but in a respectable location near the king’s own palace, in the city where it would remain.

וַיָּשָׁב דָּוִד לְבָרֵךְ אֶת בֵּיתוֹ וַתֵּצֵא מִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל לִקְרַאת דָּוִד וַתֹּאמֶר מַה נִּכְבַּד הַיּוֹם מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר נִגְלָה הַיּוֹם לְעֵינֵי אַמְהוֹת עֲבָדָיו כְּהִגָּלוֹת נִגְלוֹת אַחַד הָרֵקִים

David returned to bless his household. Mikhal daughter of Saul came out to meet David, finding it an opportunity to express her feelings, and said sarcastically: How honorable today was the king of Israel, who was exposed today before the eyes of the maidservants of his servants, in the manner that one of the idlers is exposed.

וַיֹּאמֶר דָּוִד אֶל מִיכַל לִפְנֵי ה' אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בִּי מֵאָבִיךְ וּמִכָּל בֵּיתוֹ לְצַוֹּת אֹתִי נָגִיד עַל עַם ה' עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְשִׂחַקְתִּי לִפְנֵי ה'

David said to Mikhal: I did this before the Lord, who chose me over your father and over his entire household, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel. You claim that my behavior is unbefitting a king of Israel, but God chose me as king over your father and his supposedly more respectable family. Therefore, I will revel before the Lord, in gratitude to Him for all the kindnesses He has bestowed upon me.

וּנְקַלֹּתִי עוֹד מִזֹּאת וְהָיִיתִי שָׁפָל בְּעֵינָי וְעִם הָאֲמָהוֹת אֲשֶׁר אָמַרְתְּ עִמָּם אִכָּבֵדָה

And I would be demeaned even more than this; I am willing to make an even greater mockery of myself, and I would be lowly in my eyes; but with the maidservants of whom you spoke, in front of whom I have put myself to shame, with them, I would be honored. My actions actually caused them to have greater respect for me, and they are important enough to me for me to be honored among them.

וּלְמִיכַל בַּת שָׁאוּל לֹא הָיָה לָהּ יָלֶד עַד יוֹם מוֹתָהּ

Mikhal daughter of Saul did not have a child until the day of her death. This was a divine punishment for her criticism of David, when she should have respected him for serving God with all his heart. Alternatively, this quarrel caused a schism between David and Mikhal, and the king, who had many other wives, subsequently kept his distance from her.