Bible Strands
2 Samuel 6:10
So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David redirects the ark away from Jerusalem after fearing the Lord’s presence, placing it in Obed-edom the Gittite’s house instead.
The words — The Hebrew אָבָה ('a.Vah) means "he was willing," combined with לֹא (lo') "not" to form the explicit refusal to transport the ark further.
The thread — The narrative tracks Obed-edom’s lineage in 1 Chronicles 26:4 and notes his Gittite origin alongside other exiled figures like Ittai in 2 Samuel 15:19.
Why it lands — The text records David’s practical hesitation and the ark’s temporary relocation before any interpreter infers theological lessons about fear, blessing, or divine presence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed–edom the Gittite.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 26:4 And Obed-edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
- 2 Samuel 4:3 because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day.
- 2 Samuel 15:19 Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland.
- 2 Samuel 18:2 He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.”
- 1 Chronicles 13:13 So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
- 1 Chronicles 15:18 and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel.
- 1 Chronicles 16:5 Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals