2 Kings vi.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Again, after he had been anointed. David consulted his officers, &c., (1 Paralipomenon xiii. 1.) and called a numerous assembly of the priests and people to meet him at Cariathiarim. — Thousand, in arms, to protect the rest, (Calmet) who might probably amount to 300,000. (Haydock) — This number Capel and Grotius would substitute for the one here mentioned. Some copies of the Septuagint read 70,000. In the former assembly, there were 340, or 359, (Calmet) or 60 thousand, chap. v. 1. (Haydock)
Ver. 2. Juda. But why are not the other tribes mentioned? and whither did they go? We should probably translate, “from the city of Baalim, in Juda;” which is another name of Cariathiarim, as the Paralipomenon intimate, [1 Paralipomenon xiii.?] ver. 6. See Josue xv. 9, 60. — Invoked; or which is called “the ark of the Lord.”
Ver. 3. Cart, out of respect, as the Philistines had done, 1 Kings vi. 7. But God had ordered the Levites to carry it themselves, and the neglect here proved so dreadful; for which reason, David required the priests to attend when he removed the ark from the house of Obededom, 1 Paralipomenon xv. 12. — Gabaa means “the hill of Cariathiarim,” where the ark had been in the house of Abinadab, from the time of its being restored back by the Philistines. (Challoner) — Hunnius would multiply the places where the ark was fixed, to show, against Catholics, that the Church is not confined to one place; (Amama) as if Catholic did not maintain the universality of the Church! (Haydock)
Ver. 5. Wood. Hebrew specifies “fir wood,” of which the instruments were, perhaps, usually made.
Ver. 6. Nachon. 1 Paralipomenon Chidon. Hebrew may be rendered, “prepared;” (Chaldean) as they were almost arrived at the end (Calmet) of the procession. — His hand, is wanting in Hebrew. (Kennicott) — Kicked. Protestants, “shook it.” (Haydock)
Ver. 7. Rashness. Hebrew shal, means also “error, ignorance,” &c. Syriac and Arabic better, “because he put forth his hand.” (Kennicott) — Oza had touched the ark uncovered, (Serarius) shewing too little confidence in God, as if he could not have hindered it from falling; (Rabbins) or perhaps he was the advisor of the ark’s being placed upon a cart, instead of the Levites’ shoulders. (Tirinus) — It is not certain that he was a Levite; and the privilege belonged to the sons of Caath, who could claim this honour only after the ark had been folded up with three covers. Moreover, the priests seem to have been always selected to carry the ark, after they came into the promised land, ver. 3., and 1 Kings iv. 4., &c. It is hoped that the fault of Oza would be expiated by his sudden death, (Calmet) as his intention was laudable. (Tirinus) — But God would teach his ministers with what caution they were to treat sacred things, (Calmet) and how exactly all his injunctions were to be observed. (Haydock)
Ver. 10. Gethite, a native of Geth-remmon, a Levitical city; (Josue xxi. 24,) or he might have been born at Geth; (Calmet) or his father might have resided there a long time, (Serarius; Tirinus) unless he was there with David. (Salien) — He was a Levite, 1 Paralipomenon xv. 18., and xvi. 5., and xxvi. 4. (Calmet)
Ver. 12. Choirs. Or companies of musicians. (Challoner) — This sentence is not found in Hebrew nor in St. Jerome’s version. (Calmet) — The Vatican and Alexandrian Septuagint have, “David brought the ark of the Lord from the house of Obeddara, into the city of David, with joy; (13) and there were seven choirs with him, taking up the ark, and the sacrifice, a calf and lamb; (14) and David played on tuneful organs before the Lord; and David had on a beautiful stole.” (Haydock)
Ver. 13. Paces. So altars of turf (Grotius) were erected at this distance from each other, on each side of the road. The pagans have sometimes treated their emperors and deities with the like respect. (Suetonius in Otho and Calig.) — Paris thus addresses Helena in Ovid’s Heroic Epistles.
Ibis Dardanias ingens Regina per urbes,
Teque novam vulgus credet adesse Deam,
Quaque feres gressus, adolebunt cynnama flammæ,
Cœsaque sanguineam victima planget humum.
Ver. 14. Ephod which ordinarily was the habit of priests. But no law restrained others from using it, (Calmet) particularly on sacred occasions; as we often see laics in a surplice, when they have to sing Church music, &c. (Menochius) — David had also on a cloak of byssus; (Paralipomenon) and still Michol speaks as if he had been uncovered; because in this solemn ceremony, he was inspired to divest himself of his royal robes, and to act with a degree of enthusiasm; (Haydock) which would not have been otherwise becoming in a king. David is considered by some of the fathers as a figure of the priests of the new law; as he ate the loaves of proposition, was dressed like priests, &c. Sacerdos scitus erat David. (1 Iræn. iv.; St. Ambrose v. in Luc. vi.) (Calmet)
Ver. 16. Leaping. Septuagint, “beating” musical instruments….she counted him as nothing, &c. (Haydock) — She rather partook of her father’s disposition and pride. (Menochius)
Ver. 18. Blessed. Wishing all sorts of happiness. Only priests and kings perform this function publicly, 3 Kings viii. 55. Afterwards David went to his palace, to impart the same blessing to his family, and particularly to the women, who had not been present. This is a vestige of the sacerdotal power, which masters of families formerly enjoyed.
Ver. 19. Cake, made very thin, with a mixture of oil. — Beef, sufficient for a meal. — Oil. This was much esteemed in those days. Many would translate the Hebrew, “a bottle of wine.”
Ver. 20. Fellows. Septuagint, “dancers.” Michol exaggerates, as David had been guilty of no indiscretion, ver. 14. (Calmet) — St. Gregory (Mor. xxvii. 27,) styles her “insane.” Yet Abulensis does not sufficiently approve of David’s conduct. (Menochius)
Ver. 22. Eyes. Humility in a king is truly noble. — Glorious. He accepts the compliment of Michol, though she had spoken ironically. (Haydock)
Ver. 23. Death. Thus was she punished. The five sons who are attributed to her (chap. xxi. 8.) were only adopted; or perhaps we ought to read Merob, instead of Michol; (Calmet) as the latter had been connected with Phaltiel, and not with Adriel, who was the former’s husband. (Haydock)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
David fetcheth the ark from Cariathiarim. Oza is struck dead for touching it. It is deposited in the house of Obededom: and from thence is carried to David’s house.
1 And David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
2 *And David arose, and went, with all the people that were with him of the men of Juda, to fetch the ark of God, upon which the name of the Lord of hosts is invoked, who sitteth over it between the Cherubims.
3 And they laid the ark of God upon a new cart: and took it out of the house of Abinadab, who was in Gabaa; and Oza, and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4 *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.
5 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.
6 And when they came to the floor of Nachon, Oza put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it: because the oxen kicked, and made it lean aside.
7 And the indignation of the Lord was enkindled against Oza, and he struck him for his rashness: and he died there before the ark of God.
8 *And David was grieved because the Lord had struck Oza, and the name of that place was called: The striking of Oza, to this day.
9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying: How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?
10 And he would not have the ark of the Lord brought in to himself into the city of David: but he caused it to be carried into the house of Obededom, the Gethite.
11 And the ark of the Lord abode in the house of Obededom, the Gethite, three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.
12 *And it was told king David, that the Lord had blessed Obededom, and all that he had, because of the ark of God. So David went, and brought away the ark of God out of the house of Obededom, into the city of David, with joy. And there were with David seven choirs, and calves for victims.
13 *And when they that carried the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a ram:
14 And David danced with all his might before the Lord: and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15 And David and all the house of Israel brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord with joyful shouting, and with sound of trumpet.
16 And when the ark of the Lord was come into the city of David, Michol, the daughter of Saul, looking out through a window, saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord: and she despised him in her heart.
17 And they brought the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle, which David had pitched for it: and David offered holocausts, and peace-offerings before the Lord.
18 And when he had made an end of offering holocausts and peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.
19 And he distributed to all the multitude of Israel, both men and women, to every one, a cake of bread, and a piece of roasted beef, and fine flour fried with oil: and all the people departed, every one to his house.
20 And David returned to bless his own house: and Michol, the daughter of Saul, coming out to meet David, said: How glorious was the king of Israel to-day, who uncovered himself before the handmaids of his servants, and was undressed, as if one of the vain fellows should strip himself.
21 And David said to Michol: Before the Lord, who chose me rather than thy father, and than all his house, and commanded me to be ruler over the people of the Lord in Israel,
22 I will both play, and make myself meaner than I have done: and I will be little in my own eyes: and with the handmaids, of whom thou speakest, I shall appear more glorious.
23 Therefore Michol, the daughter of Saul, had no child to the day of her death.
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2: 1 Paralipomenon xiii. 5.; Year of the World 2959.
4: 1 Kings vii. 1.
8: 1 Paralipomenon xiii. 11.
12: 1 Paralipomenon xv. 25.
13: 1 Paralipomenon xv. 26.