Bible Strands
2 Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David and the house of Israel lead a procession to transport the ark of God, with Ahio walking ahead of it. This moment immediately precedes the incident at the threshing floor of Nacon where Uzzah touches the ark.
The words — The text states the people were מְשַֽׂחֲקִים (me.sa.cha.Kim), meaning they were playing or making music. They performed this before יְהוָ֔ה (Yah.weh), Yahweh, using instruments בְּ/כֹל (be./Khol), literally "on all" or "with all kinds."
The thread — This scene corresponds to the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 13:8, which records David and Israel celebrating before God with harps and lyres. It also reflects the instrumental worship patterns described in Psalms 150:3 and Psalms 68:25.
Why it lands — The passage documents the specific musical instruments and corporate participation required when moving the ark. It establishes the immediate backdrop for the subsequent violation at Nacon, showing that enthusiasm preceded a breach of handling protocol.
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
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.
Cross-references
- 1 Chronicles 13:8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
- Psalms 150:3 Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre.
- Psalms 68:25 The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.
- Amos 5:23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
- 1 Samuel 10:5 After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.
- 1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord command your servants here to seek out someone who can skillfully play the harp. Whenever the spirit of distress from God is upon you, he is to play it, and you will be well.”
- 1 Samuel 18:6 As the troops were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs, and with tambourines and other instruments.
- 2 Kings 3:15 But now, bring me a harpist.” And while the harpist played, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha
- 1 Chronicles 15:10 and from the Uzzielites, Amminadab the chief and 112 of his relatives.
- Psalms 47:5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD with the sound of the horn.