David Moves the Ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 16:1-15)

2026-04-18

The ark had been in Kirjathjearim for decades since it was returned by the Philistines. When the LORD had secured David the kingdom and established the capital in Jerusalem, David sought to move the ark of the covenant to this City of David. With 30,000 men, David attempted to bring it back. Like the Philistines, they put the ark on a cart: “And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart” (2 Samuel 6:3). And as it was seen before with the Philistines, “And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home: And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods” (1 Samuel 6:10-11).

It is unclear why just the ark and not all the furniture of the tabernacle was brought to Jerusalem. The Day of Atonement, for example, required the incense altar as well as the ark, so it seems festivals like this were not celebrated before or during the reign of David.

Uzzah was killed by the LORD during this procession, though his heart may have been right. He tried to sturdy the ark when the oxen stumbled, touching it, which was not lawful for him. We learn here that ignorance of God’s ways does not excuse us from the consequences. However, Uzzah and company should have known something of God’s holiness and power to exercise more care, just as we should in our own day-to-day. This verse in this context indicates this: “And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims” (2 Samuel 6:2). How the LORD is described here is not incidental.

Their hearts were right; they were worshipping the LORD: “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” (2 Samuel 6:5). Having a right heart is of utmost importance, but it does not substitute for carelessness in the things of God.

After leaving the ark with Obededom, and seeing how he was blessed by God for three months, David tried again, but this time, he and the Levites did their due diligence in researching God’s Word in the proper ways to carry the ark:

And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. (13) For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. (14) So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. (15) And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 15:12-15)