2 Samuel 6:5

Verse

David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

American Standard Version (1901)

And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of instruments made of fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.

Bible in Basic English

And David and all the men of Israel made melody before the Lord with all their power, with songs and with corded instruments and instruments of brass.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But David and all Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of wood, on harps and lutes and timbrels and cornets and cymbals.

Free Bible Version

David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the Lord's presence, singing songs accompanied by zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Dauid and al the house of Israel played before the Lord on all instruments made of firre, and on harpes, and on Psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

David and all the Israeli men were celebrating in God’s presence, singing with all their strength and playing lyres and harps, and beating tambourines, and clashing castanets and cymbals.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then David and all the house of Israel began to play before Yahweh, celebrating with wooden instruments, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

World English Bible

David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.

Young's Literal Translation

and David and all the house of Israel are playing before Jehovah, with all kinds of [instruments] of fir-wood, even with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cornets, and with cymbals.

Context

Uzzah Touches the Ark

⁴bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. ⁵David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

Summary

In this verse, we see the account of King David and the Israelites attempting to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. However, as they were transporting it on a cart, the oxen stumbled, causing Uzzah to reach out and touch the Ark to steady it. This action resulted in God's anger, and Uzzah was struck dead. This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the holiness of God and the importance of following His specific instructions. It underscores the reverence and respect that should be given to God's presence and His commandments.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

On all manner of instruments made of fir wood - This place should be corrected from the parallel place, Ch1 13:8 : "All Israel played before God, with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries," etc. Instead of בכל עצי bechol atsey, "with all woods" or "trees;" the parallel place is בכל עז bechol oz. "with all their strength:" this makes a good sense, the first makes none. The Septuagint, in this place, has the verse reading; εν ισχυΐ, with might.

John Gill Bible Commentary

And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor,.... Who is called Chidon, Ch1 13:9; he seems to have had two names; or it was a place that had two names, as say the Jews (h); according to a tradition of theirs (i), Chidon is the name of the place where it was said to Joshua, stretch out the spear or shield in thine hand towards Ai, Jos 8:18; so indeed the word signifies, nor was it unusual to stretch out the shield as a signal on occasion. Thus Aeneas lifted up his shield in his left hand, as a token to his Trojans that he was come to relieve them (k): where this threshingfloor was is not said; some say (l) it was the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite; it could not be far from Jerusalem, since Baalejudah or Kirjathjearim was but about a mile from it, according to Bunting (m), from whence they fetched the ark: Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; to keep it from falling: the reason was: for the oxen shook it; the same word is used in Ch1 13:9; and there it is rendered, "for the oxen stumbled"; and by their stumbling the cart was shaken, and the ark in it, and in danger of falling, as Uzzah thought: or "the oxen shook", for the word "it" is a supplement; they shook as if their members were plucking asunder and parting, as Kimchi expresses it, because of the holiness of the ark; as if they were sensible it was wrong for them to draw it, when it ought to have been carried on the shoulders of Levites; and by this way, as well as by the death of Uzzah the error committed was pointed out: but others render it, "for the oxen stuck in the clay" (n), and could not go on; which Uzzah observing, and fearing that in their struggle to get out the cart should be overturned, or that the procession would be retarded too much, took hold of the ark to take it out, and carry it the remainder of the way, it not being far from Jerusalem. (h) T. Bab Sotah, fol. 35. 2. (i) Hieron. Trad. Heb. in lib. Paralipom. fol. 83. G. (k) Virgil. Aeneid. 10. ver. 261, 262. Vid. Diodor. Sic. l. 20. p. 787. (l) Gloss. in T. Bab. Sotah, fol. 35. 3. (m) Travels, &c. p. 138. (n) "nam luto haeserunt boves", Noldius, p. 396. No. 1343. so Bochart. Hierozoic. par. 1. l. 2. c. 37. col. 374. ex Arabica Lingua.

2 Samuel 6:5

Uzzah Touches the Ark

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

American Standard Version (1901)

Bible in Basic English

And David and all the men of Israel made melody before the Lord with all their power, with songs and with corded instruments and instruments of brass.

Douay-Rheims 1899

But David and all Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of wood, on harps and lutes and timbrels and cornets and cymbals.

Free Bible Version

David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the Lord's presence, singing songs accompanied by zithers, harps, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

Geneva Bible 1599

And Dauid and al the house of Israel played before the Lord on all instruments made of firre, and on harpes, and on Psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

Translation for Translators

David and all the Israeli men were celebrating in God’s presence, singing with all their strength and playing lyres and harps, and beating tambourines, and clashing castanets and cymbals.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Then David and all the house of Israel began to play before Yahweh, celebrating with wooden instruments, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

Noah Webster Bible

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.

World English Bible

David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.

Young's Literal Translation

Adam Clarke
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

2 Samuel 6:5

Verse

Context

Uzzah Touches the Ark

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

2 Samuel 6:5

Uzzah Touches the Ark

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes