When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
Parallel translations
- WEB When those who bore Yahweh’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
- KJV And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
- NKJV And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep.
- NASB And so it was, that when those carrying the ark of the Lord marched six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened steer.
- NLT After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
After the ark-bearers took six steps, David offered sacrifices of an ox and a fattened calf. Worship and sacrifice marked every stage of bringing God's presence home.
Overview
This time the ark was 'borne' by bearers, in keeping with God's command, not carted. The early sacrifice expressed gratitude and consecration of the whole journey to the LORD. David's lavish, reverent worship shows that bringing God's presence among His people is fittingly accompanied by costly devotion.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- 1 Chr 15:15And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.
- 1 Kgs 8:5There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
- Num 4:15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.
- Num 7:9But he did not give any to the Kohathites, since they were to carry on their shoulders the holy objects for which they were responsible.
- Josh 3:3and commanded the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, you are to set out from your positions and follow it.
- 1 Chr 15:2Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.”
- 1 Chr 15:25–26So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom.
- 2 Chr 5:6There, before the ark, King Solomon and the whole congregation of Israel who had assembled with him sacrificed so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 6:13 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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