2 Samuel 6:4

Verse

bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

American Standard Version (1901)

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

Bible in Basic English

And Uzzah went by the side of the ark, while Ahio went before it.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And when they had taken it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa, Ahio having care of the ark of God went before the ark.

Free Bible Version

with the Ark of God on it, with Ahio walking in front of it.

Geneva Bible 1599

And when they brought the Arke of God out of the house of Abinadab, that was at Gibeah, Ahio went before the Arke,

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

Uzzah walked alongside the cart, and Ahio walked in front of it.

Unlocked Literal Bible

They brought the cart out of Abinadab's house on the hill with the ark of God on it. Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

World English Bible

They brought it out of Abinadab’s house which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.

Young's Literal Translation

and they lift it up from the house of Abinadab, which [is] in the height, with the ark of God, and Ahio is going before the ark,

Context

David Fetches the Ark

³They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, ⁴bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark.

Summary

This verse describes the scene where David and all the house of Israel were celebrating and bringing the ark of the covenant of the Lord with rejoicing and music. The ark symbolized the presence of God among His people, and its return to Jerusalem was a momentous occasion. The joy and exuberance displayed by David and the Israelites reflect their reverence and love for God. This event marked a significant step in David's reign as he sought to honor and worship the Lord in all his endeavors.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord,.... That is, before the ark, which was a symbol of the presence of the Lord: on all manner of instruments made of fir wood: which is a general expression, the particulars follow; though instruments of different sorts are mentioned, and even some of metal, as cymbals, which were vessels of brass, they struck one against another, and gave a very acute sound, being hollow (g): even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals; harps, psalteries, and timbrels, are frequently met with; cornets, according to Kimchi, are such sort of instruments, that in playing upon them it required an agitation of the whole body. Now it was that David penned the sixty eighth psalm, which begins, "let God arise", &c. Psa 68:1, words used by Moses when the ark set forward, Num 10:35. (g) Suidas in voce