Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. VI.

Vers. 1. AGain David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.] The ark, the especiall signe of Gods presence amongst his people, and from whence he had promised to answer them concerning all things, he would give them in charge, had been in the private house of Abinadab in Kirjath∣jearim about seven and fourtie years, ever since the Philistines sent it back to the land of Judah, 1. Sam. 7.1. now because being there in a private house the people began by degrees to neglect it, as if they had forgot what a treasure it was, so soon as David was established in the kingdome and had driven the Jebusites out of Jeru∣salem,

he thought presently of fetching up the ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem; first, as judging it most for the honour of God and of his ark, that it should not lie hid in a private family, but be settled in the chief citie of the kingdome in a place purposely appointed for it: and secondly, that being in the heart of the kingdome, and in Jerusalem the royall citie, the people might the more conveniently resort unto it, to consult with God and to perform the duties of his worship and ser∣vice. In the 1. Chron. 13.1, 2, &c. it is said, that first David called together all the captains, and elders, and heads of the people, and imparted to them what he thought, and then consulted with them, whether it would not be best to gather together all the chosen men of Israel that they might in a solemn manner fetch up the ark of God unto Jerusalem; and that when they had approved of this his purpose, then he gathered together this great assembly of the people, even thirty thousand as is here related; and indeed the reason why the relation of the fetching up the ark is in that first book of Chronicles set before the relation of the two victories which he ob∣tained over the Philistines, whereas here the story of those two victories is set down first in the latter end of the former chapter, may well be this, because that con∣sultation with the captains and elders, was before the invasion of the Philistines, but the assembling of the people to fetch up the ark was after it, as here it is set down.

Vers. 2. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, &c.] That is, being come with all those chosen men of Israel, whom he had gathered together to Baale of Judah, (that is, to Kirjath-jearim, 1. Chron. 13.6. which was also called Kirjath-baal, Josh. 15.9. and Baalah or Baaleh of Judah, where the ark had been so long a time saving onely when it was upon extraordina∣ry occasions brought into the camp, as there, 1. Sam. 14.18.) David arose and went thence to carry the ark unto Jerusalem.

Vers. 3. And they set the Ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah.] That is, a hill or high place so cal∣led in Kirjath-jearim, of which see the note, 1. Sam. 7.1. doubtlesse because it was a long way to carry the ark from Kirjath-jearim to Jerusalem, therefore they put it in a cart, encouraged thereto by the example of the Philistines, and thence it was that they put it into a new cart as they also did, 1. Sam. 6.7, 8. Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, and take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart, &c. But herein they manifestly transgressed the law of God, which expressely appointed that the Levites should carry it upon their shoulders, Num. 4.15. and 7.9. and so this was the first occasion of Gods displeasure, and of that dis∣mall accident that followed in the death of Uzzah, vers. 6. for so much David him∣self acknowledged, when he came up the second time with the Israelites to fetch away the ark, 1. Chron. 15.12, 13. Sanctifie your selves, saith he to the Levites▪ both ye and your brethren that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel, unto the place that I have prepared for it; for because ye did it not at first▪ the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due or∣der. It is indeed very strange that when David had called together thirty thousand men of the chief of Israel, both priests and others, there should not be one amongst them all that should stumble at this, but that they should all runne on so confident∣ly

in so grosse an errour. But we must consider that they had been long strangers to the ark, and never questioned but that they might safely do, what the Philistines had done before them without any danger; and then besides, God would let us see how easily multitudes of Gods people may erre, if they do not the more heedfully examine all by the rules of the word.

Vers. 4. And Ahio went before the Ark.] To wit, to look to the oxen, as Uz∣zah went behind to take care of the cart and the ark that was in it.

Vers. 6. And when they came to Nachons threshing floor, &c.] This Na∣chon is also called Chidon, 1. Chron. 13.9. and the last clause of this verse which is here translated, for the oxen shook it, is there translated for the oxen stumbled, and it may well be that the oxens stumbling shook the ark, and so thereupon Uz∣zah laid hold on the ark to stay it, for fear it should have fallen. Where this thresh∣ing floor of Nachon or Chidon was, it is not expressed, but most probable it is, that they had not gone farre from the house of Abinadab in Kirjath-jearim ere the Lord by this sad disaster testified his displeasure against them for carrying the ark in a cart.

Vers. 7. And God smote him there for his errour, &c.] To wit, because ha∣ving put the ark into a cart which should have been carried on the Levites shoul∣ders, he now also laid hold on the ark, which no man might touch but the priests onely, Num. 4.15. The sonnes of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing lest they die. Indeed the ark was to be covered by the law, but perhaps in this as in other things, they had neglected the direction of the law; or else, being covered onely with a loose covering, that might flie up with the tottering of the cart, Uzzah might touch the bare ark with his hand; and for this God present∣ly struck him dead in the place. A most remarkable example of Gods severity against those that will not keep close to the direction of his word in all things that concern his worship, upon what pretence soever they do it. Though Abinadab the father of this Uzzah had entertained the ark in his house above fourty years together, and took it in at a time when others were afraid to receive it through the terrour of the judgement which fell upon the men of Bethshemesh, 1. Sam. 6.19, 20. Yet was his sonne now struck suddenly dead, because he reached forth his hand and touched the ark; and yet he did it too with a good intention to stay the ark from falling; and suddenly, not thinking of the unlawfulnesse of this act, as is intimated in these words, God smote him there for his errour, or rashnesse, as it is in the margin of our bibles.

Vers. 8. And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Ʋzzah.] That is, he was grieved, troubled, and disquieted because of this heavy judgement wherewith the Lord had broken forth upon Uzzah. Some will have this understood, that David was merely displeased with themselves for their heed∣lesnesse, as thinking it too harsh to say of David that he was displeased with God; but doubtlesse it was partly the very judgement it self that befell Uzzah that he was troubled at; he could not well keep his heart from murmuring and rising against this severitie of God, in striking Uzzah dead in the place for so small a matter, he was discontented, that when they had undertaken such a work of piety, on a sudden all the joy of the people should be dashed and damped with such a sad disaster; and

so, partly because he did not so quietly stoop at first under Gods hand as he ought to have done, therefore it is said, David was displeased.

Vers. 9. How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?] That is, I shall not do it without danger, yea it seems the Lord is not pleased that the ark should be carried to Jerusalem; and therefore it will be safer to desist from my purpose.

Vers. 10. But David carried it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.] Who it seems gladly entertained it. Though no doubt he knew well enough what a slaughter was made amongst the men of Bethshemesh, at the first coming of the ark thither; and though now also perhaps he saw when Uzzah was stricken dead by the hand of God for touching the ark, and that David himself trembled and was afraid to to carry home the ark to his house, yet considering that there was no dan∣ger in harbouring the ark if they carried themselves with that respect and reve∣rence therein that God required, he gladly received the ark into his house. That this Obed-edom was a Levite is evident, 1. Chron. 15.17, 18. and therefore it seems he is here called Obed-edom the Gittite, because he was of Gathrimmon a citie which was given in common by the tribes of Dan and Manasseh to the Le∣vites of the family of Kohath, as we may see, Josh. 21.24, 25.

Vers. 12. And it was told king David, saying The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, &c.] It is not expressed what it was wherein they perceived that God had blessed Obed-edom and all his family; but doubtlesse it was some extra∣ordinary and wonderfull blessing that God poured forth upon him and his, in the encrease of his cattell and the successe of all his affairs, &c. because it was so pre∣sently discovered and notice taken of it by those that dwelt about him in so short a time; for the ark was in his house but three moneths in all, as is noted in the fore∣going verse. Indeed in the 1. Chron. 26.5. it is said that the numerousnesse of his children was, because the Lord blessed him; but this could not be the blessing here spoken of, that in the space of three moneths was so clearly discerned by those that lived about him.

So David went and brought up the Ark of God, &c.] That is, perceiving by Gods bounty to Obed-edom, that the ark might be entertained without danger, he at length found out where their former errour had been, and so resolving to amend that, he undertook again to fetch the ark to Jerusalem; and having again assembled the people, and given the Priests and Levites their charge, to wit, to carry the ark on their shoulders, he fetched it with great solemnity from the house of Obed-edom; as is largely related in the 15. and 16. chapters of the first book of Chronicles.

Vers. 13. When they that bare the ark of God had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.] And this he did, First, by way of testifying their thankfulnesse to God, for their successefull entrance upon this great work; so soon as David percei∣ved that they had begun this work, and that as yet there was no signe of Gods dis∣pleasure against them, as there had been formerly in the smiting of Uzzah, it greatly cheared his heart, and thereupon he judged it fit to stay a while there, and offer God some sacrifices by way of thanksgiving, to wit, upon some altar for that purpose erected. He knew well that it was of Gods mercy that they had found out their for∣mer errour, in carrying the ark in a cart, and had now reformed it, by appointing the Levites to carry it on their shoulders according to the Law: and he considered

besides, that for many other things the Lord might have taken advantage against them▪ and punished them as formerly; and therefore presently by way of thankful∣nesse, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings; and indeed so much is plainly intimated, 1, Chron. 15.26. where also the number of the sacrifices offered is expressed; And it came to passe when God helped the Levites that bare the Ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rammes. And secondly, by way of imploring Gods mercy, that he would shew them favour in the rest of the way, as he had done hitherto. The remembrance of that dolefull disaster that befell Uzzah, made him the more fearfull, and so the more carefull to seek Gods favour.

Vers. 14. And David was girded with a linen ephod.] That is, a linen gar∣ment, like that of the Priests ephod; which doubtlesse he put on, not onely that he might be lighter to dance before the ark, but also to shew his devotion.

Vers. 17. And they brought in the ark of the Lord▪ and set it in his place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it.] For the tabernacle and al∣tar of burnt-offerings which Moses had made, were both still at Gibeon: 2. Chron. 1.3, 4. So Solomon and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon: for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the Lord had made in the wildernesse. But the ark of God had David brought up from Kiriath-jearim, to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem: and 1. Chron. 21.29. For the ta∣bernacle of the Lord which Moses made in the wildernesse▪ and the altar of the burnt-offerings, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. At this time Da∣vid did also deliver to the Levites a Psalme to be sung before the ark, as we may see, 1. Chron. 16.7, &c.

Vers. 20. Then David returned to blesse his houshold.] That is, to rejoyce with them in private, and to worship God with them, and to crave a blessing from God on them, as he had done on the people.

How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, &c.] That is, who forgetting or casting off the respect of his regall dignity, both in apparell and behaviour, mixed himself with the base multitude, dancing and leaping in the open streets, as fools will do and vain men, when they are hired to make others sport, as one of the vain fellows shame∣lessely uncovereth himself. Some conceive, that whilest David danced, having onely a loose linen garment upon him, some part of his bare legs or thighs might be disco∣vered, which they judge the more probable, because his wife upbraids him that he had uncovered himself in the eyes of the handmaids. But I conceive there is no ne∣cessity, that the discovering his naked skin should be hereby meant, but onely that laying by his princely attire, he had used light behaviour, not beseeming the gravity of a king, and had thereby exposed himself to the scorn and contempt of every girl that came to see the pomp of this removall of the ark.

Vers. 21. And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, &c.] Considering how grievous a thing it is to any woman to be upbraided with the faults and miseries of her parents, and how farre every hus∣band is bound to bear with the infirmities of his wife, as the weaker vessel, it may seem that David was somewhat too tart in this reply of his upon his wife; for it must

needs cut her to the heart to heare her self twitted with the Lords rejecting of her father and his family. But indeed David had just cause to be thus sharp, not onely because the flouts and insolencies of a wife are most insufferable; but also especially because it was his zeal and devotion in the service of God, which she derided; that it was, that chiefly moved his spirit, that it should be cast in his teeth as a matter of re∣proch and disparagement, that he had humbled himself so in a way of religion; which was indeed a reproching of God.

Vers. 23. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul, had no child unto the day of her death.] And thus when David came to blesse his house▪ Michal by her sinne brought a curse upon it. If she were barren before (as indeed we read not of any children she had hitherto) yet Davids prayers might have prevailed for this blessing; but now because of this wickednesse, God adjudged her to perpetuall barrennesse, and so she died childlesse.