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2 Samuel 6 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

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Tenakh Study · 2 Samuel 6:1–23

2 Samuel, Chapter 6

שמואל ב ו

David sets out to bring the ark of God up to Yerushalayim on a new cart, and Uzza dies when he takes hold of it. Three months later the ark is carried up with offerings, shouting and dancing, and Michal despises David for it.

6:1Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

Vayosef od David et-kol-baḥur beYisra'el sheloshim alef.

אוַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֥וֹד דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־כָּל־בָּח֥וּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃

6:2And David arose, and went with all the people who were with him from Ba’alei Yehudah (Baale of Judah), to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of Hashem of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim.

Vayakom vayeleḥ David veḥol-ha'am asher ito miBa'alei Yehudah leha'alot misham et aron ha'Elohim asher-nikra shem shem Adonai tzeva'ot yoshev hakeruvim alav.

בוַיָּ֣קָם ׀ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ מִֽבַּעֲלֵ֖י יְהוּדָ֑ה לְהַעֲל֣וֹת מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֚ת אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֣א שֵׁ֗ם שֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת ישֵׁ֥ב הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים עָלָֽיו׃

6:3And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Avinadav (Abinadab) that was in Giv’ah (Gibeah); and Uzza (Uzzah) and Achyo (Ahio), the sons of Avinadav, drove the new cart.

Vayarkivu et-aron ha'Elohim el-agalah ḥadashah vayisa'uhu mibeit Avinadav asher baGiv'ah ve'Uza ve'Aḥyo benei Avinadav nohagim et-ha'agalah ḥadashah.

גוַיַּרְכִּ֜בוּ אֶת־אֲר֚וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־עֲגָלָ֣ה חֲדָשָׁ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֔הוּ מִבֵּ֥ית אֲבִינָדָ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וְעֻזָּ֣א וְאַחְי֗וֹ בְּנֵי֙ אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב נֹהֲגִ֖ים אֶת־הָעֲגָלָ֥ה חֲדָשָֽׁה׃

6:4And they brought it out of the house of Avinadav which was at Giv’ah, accompanying the ark of God; and Achyo went before the ark.

Vayisa'uhu mibeit Avinadav asher baGiv'ah im aron ha'Elohim ve'Aḥyo holeḥ lifnei ha'aron.

דוַיִּשָּׂאֻ֗הוּ מִבֵּ֚ית אֲבִֽינָדָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֔ה עִ֖ם אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְאַחְי֕וֹ הֹלֵ֖ךְ לִפְנֵ֥י הָאָרֽוֹן׃

6:5And David and all the house of Israel played before Hashem on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

VeDavid veḥol-beit Yisra'el mesaḥakim lifnei Adonai beḥol atzei veroshim uveḥinorot uvinvalim uvetupim uvimna'an'im uvetzeltzelim.

הוְדָוִ֣ד ׀ וְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מְשַֹֽחֲקִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל עֲצֵ֣י בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים וּבְכִנֹּר֚וֹת וּבִנְבָלִים֙ וּבְתֻפִּ֔ים וּבִמְנַֽעַנְעִ֖ים וּֽבְצֶלְצֶלִֽים׃

Uzza and the ark

6:6And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzza put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

Vayavo'u ad-goren Naḥon vayishlaḥ Uza el-aron ha'Elohim vayoḥez bo ki shametu habakar.

ווַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־גֹּ֣רֶן נָכ֑וֹן וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח עֻזָּ֜א אֶל־אֲר֚וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ וַיֹּ֣אחֶז בּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י שָׁמְט֖וּ הַבָּקָֽר׃

6:7And the anger of Hashem was kindled against Uzza; and God struck him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Vayiḥar-af Adonai be'Uzah vayakehu sham ha'Elohim al-hashal vayamat sham im aron ha'Elohim.

זוַיִּֽחַר־אַ֚ף יְהֹוָה֙ בְּעֻזָּ֔ה וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ שָׁ֛ם הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־הַשַּׁ֑ל וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁ֔ם עִ֖ם אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

6:8And David was displeased, because Hashem had made a breach upon Uzza; and he called the name of the place Peretz Uzza (Perez-uzzah) to this day.

Vayiḥar leDavid al asher paratz Adonai peretz be'Uzah vayikra lamakom hahu Peretz Uzah ad hayom hazeh.

חוַיִּ֣חַר לְדָוִ֔ד עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּרַ֧ץ יְהֹוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּעֻזָּ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֞א לַמָּק֚וֹם הַהוּא֙ פֶּ֣רֶץ עֻזָּ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

6:9And David was afraid of Hashem that day, and said, “How shall the ark of Hashem come to me?”

Vayira David et-Adonai bayom hahu vayomer eiḥ yavo elai aron Adonai.

טוַיִּרָ֥א דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵ֛יךְ יָב֥וֹא אֵלַ֖י אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָֽה׃

6:10So David would not remove the ark of Hashem unto him into the city of David; but David carried it aside into the house of Oved-Edom (Obed-edom) the Gitti (Gittite).

Velo-avah David lehasir elav et-aron Adonai al-ir David vayatehu David beit Oved-Edom haGiti.

יוְלֹֽא־אָבָ֣ה דָוִ֗ד לְהָסִ֥יר אֵלָ֛יו אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּטֵּ֣הוּ דָוִ֔ד בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־אֱד֖וֹם הַגִּתִּֽי׃

6:11And the ark of Hashem remained in the house of Oved-Edom the Gitti three months; and Hashem blessed Oved-Edom, and all his household.

Vayeshev aron Adonai beit Oved Edom haGiti sheloshah ḥodashim vayevareḥ Adonai et-Oved Edom ve'et-kol-beito.

יאוַיֵּשֶׁב֩ אֲר֨וֹן יְהֹוָ֜ה בֵּ֣ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם הַגִּתִּ֖י שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֑ים וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־כָּל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

The ark comes to the city of David

6:12And it was told King David, saying, “Hashem has blessed the house of Oved-Edom, and all that pertains unto him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Oved-Edom into the city of David with gladness.

Vayugad lameleḥ David lemor beraḥ Adonai et-beit Oved Edom ve'et-kol-asher-lo ba'avur aron ha'Elohim vayeleḥ David vaya'al et-aron ha'Elohim mibeit Oved Edom ir David besimḥah.

יבוַיֻּגַּ֗ד לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִד֘ לֵאמֹר֒ בֵּרַ֣ךְ יְהֹוָ֗ה אֶת־בֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֚ד אֱדֹם֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וַיַּעַל֩ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים מִבֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם עִ֥יר דָּוִ֖ד בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃

6:13And it was so, that when those who bore the ark of Hashem had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

Vayehi ki tza'adu nose'ei aron-Adonai shishah tze'adim vayizbaḥ shor umeri.

יגוַיְהִ֗י כִּ֧י צָעֲד֛וּ נֹשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרוֹן־יְהֹוָ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֣ה צְעָדִ֑ים וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח שׁ֖וֹר וּמְרִֽיא׃

6:14And David danced before Hashem with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

VeDavid meḥarker beḥol-oz lifnei Adonai veDavid ḥagur efod bad.

ידוְדָוִ֛ד מְכַרְכֵּ֥ר בְּכָל־עֹ֖ז לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְדָוִ֕ד חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃

6:15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Hashem with shouting, and with the sound of the shofar (trumpet).

VeDavid veḥol-beit Yisra'el ma'alim et-aron Adonai bitru'ah uvekol shofar.

טווְדָוִד֙ וְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַעֲלִ֖ים אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֑ה בִּתְרוּעָ֖ה וּבְק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃

6:16And as the ark of Hashem came into the city of David, Michal, Shaul’s (Saul’s) daughter, looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before Hashem; and she despised him in her heart.

Vehayah aron Adonai ba ir David uMiḥal bat-Sha'ul nishkefah be'ad haḥalon vatere et-hameleḥ David mefazez umeḥarker lifnei Adonai vativez lo belibah.

טזוְהָיָה֙ אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֔ה בָּ֖א עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וּמִיכַ֨ל בַּת־שָׁא֜וּל נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה ׀ בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֗וֹן וַתֵּ֨רֶא אֶת־הַמֶּ֚לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ מְפַזֵּ֚ז וּמְכַרְכֵּר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וַתִּ֥בֶז ל֖וֹ בְּלִבָּֽהּ׃

6:17And they brought in the ark of Hashem, and set it in its place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Hashem.

Vayavi'u et-aron Adonai vayatzigu oto bimkomo betoḥ ha'ohel asher natah-lo David vaya'al David olot lifnei Adonai ushelamim.

יזוַיָּבִ֜אוּ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהֹוָ֗ה וַיַּצִּ֚גוּ אֹתוֹ֙ בִּמְקוֹמ֔וֹ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָאֹ֔הֶל אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָטָה־ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּ֨עַל דָּוִ֥ד עֹל֛וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃

6:18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Hashem of hosts.

Vayeḥal David meha'alot ha'olah vehashelamim vayevareḥ et-ha'am beshem Adonai tzeva'ot.

יחוַיְכַ֣ל דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַעֲל֥וֹת הָעוֹלָ֖ה וְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֖ם יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

6:19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, to the women as well as the men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed, every one to his house.

Vayeḥalek leḥol-ha'am leḥol-hamon Yisra'el leme'ish ve'ad-ishah le'ish ḥalat leḥem aḥat ve'eshpar eḥad va'ashishah eḥat vayeleḥ kol-ha'am ish leveito.

יטוַיְחַלֵּ֨ק לְכָל־הָעָ֜ם לְכָל־הֲמ֣וֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ לְמֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁה֒ לְאִ֗ישׁ חַלַּ֥ת לֶ֙חֶם֙ אַחַ֔ת וְאֶשְׁפָּ֣ר אֶחָ֔ד וַאֲשִׁישָׁ֖ה אֶחָ֑ת וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃

Michal and David

6:20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Shaul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

Vayashov David levareḥ et-beito vatetze Miḥal bat-Sha'ul likrat David vatomer mah-niḥbad hayom meleḥ Yisra'el asher niglah hayom le'einei amhot avadav kehigalot niglot aḥad harekim.

כוַיָּ֥שָׁב דָּוִ֖ד לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־בֵּית֑וֹ וַתֵּצֵ֞א מִיכַ֚ל בַּת־שָׁאוּל֙ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֔ד וַתֹּ֗אמֶר מַה־נִּכְבַּ֨ד הַיּ֜וֹם מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִגְלָ֚ה הַיּוֹם֙ לְעֵינֵ֨י אַמְה֣וֹת עֲבָדָ֔יו כְּהִגָּל֥וֹת נִגְל֖וֹת אַחַ֥ד הָרֵקִֽים׃

6:21And David said unto Michal, “It was before Hashem, who chose me before your father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Hashem, over Israel; therefore I will play before Hashem.

Vayomer David el-Miḥal lifnei Adonai asher baḥar-bi me'aviḥ umikol-beito letzavot oti nagid al-am Adonai al-Yisra'el vesiḥakti lifnei Adonai.

כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִד֘ אֶל־מִיכַל֒ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּֽחַר־בִּ֚י מֵֽאָבִיךְ֙ וּמִכָּל־בֵּית֔וֹ לְצַוֹּ֨ת אֹתִ֥י נָגִ֛יד עַל־עַ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשִׂחַקְתִּ֖י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃

6:22And I will yet be more vile than this, and will be base in my own sight; and of the maidservants whom you have spoken of, of them shall I be had in honor.”

Unekaloti od mizot vehayiti shafal be'einai ve'im-ha'amahot asher amart imam ikavedah.

כבוּנְקַלֹּ֚תִי עוֹד֙ מִזֹּ֔את וְהָיִ֥יתִי שָׁפָ֖ל בְּעֵינָ֑י וְעִם־הָֽאֲמָהוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְתְּ עִמָּ֖ם אִכָּבֵֽדָה׃

6:23Therefore Michal the daughter of Shaul had no child unto the day of her death.

UleMiḥal bat-Sha'ul lo-hayah lah yaled ad yom motah.

כגוּלְמִיכַל֙ בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל לֹֽא־הָ֥יָה לָ֖הּ יָ֑לֶד עַ֖ד י֥וֹם מוֹתָֽהּ׃

Sources & method

Hebrew text
The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), as published on Chabad.org. Every verse was checked character by character against Chabad’s Tenakh. Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type.
English translation
The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Shaul (Saul)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible.
Transliteration
Produced from the Hebrew with the open-source hebrew-transliteration library, adapted to Sephardic/Israeli pronunciation and reviewed by hand: ḥ for Chet and Chaf, tz for Tzadi, k for Kuf, and the Divine Name read “Adonai.” Names are capitalized.
Commentary
Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Metzudat David, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. It is shown by default; tap Commentary to hide it.
Hebrew font
SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.