1 David mobilizou 30 000 dos melhores soldados de Israel. 2 E foram juntos até Baalá de Judá, a fim de trazer de volta a arca de Deus que está consagrada ao Senhor dos exércitos, cujo trono está acima dos querubins. 3,4 A arca foi colocada sobre um carro novo e levada da casa de Abinadabe, que ficava numa colina. Era conduzida pelos filhos deste último, Uzá e Aiô. Aiô ia à frente. 5 Era seguido por David e pelos outros líderes de Israel que agitavam alegremente ramos de faia, na presença do Senhor, e tocavam liras, harpas, tamborins, pandeiretas e címbalos.

6 No entanto, quando chegaram à eira de Nacom, os bois tropeçaram e Uzá estendeu o braço para segurar a arca. 7 A ira do Senhor acendeu-se contra ele e Deus matou-o por causa do seu gesto. E ficou ali estendido ao lado da arca de Deus. 8 David ficou muito contristado por causa do que o Senhor fizera e deu àquele lugar o nome Perez-Uzá (brecha de Uzá). Ainda hoje é assim chamado.

9 O rei ficou com medo do Senhor e interrogava-se: "Como poderei trazer a arca do Senhor até mim?" 10 Por isso, resolveu não transportá-la para a Cidade de David, mas levá-la antes para a casa de Obede-Edom, originário de Gate. 11 Esta ficou ali por três meses e o Senhor abençoou a Obede-Edom e a toda a sua casa e família.

12 Quando o rei soube que o Senhor tinha abençoado Obede-Edom, toda a sua família e bens, por causa da arca de Deus, decidiu ir à casa de Obede-Edom e ordenou que transportassem a arca de Deus com grande alegria para a Cidade de David. 13 A cada seis passos que os transportadores da arca davam, paravam e esperavam que se oferecesse o sacrifício de um boi e de um bezerro cevado. 14 David dançava perante o Senhor com toda a exuberância, vestido com a veste sacerdotal*6.14 No hebraico, éfode de linho. Peça de vestuário habitualmente usada pelos sacerdotes, aqui provavelmente usada por devoção.. 15 Foi dessa maneira que Israel trouxe para o seu local próprio a arca do Senhor. Tudo isto acompanhado de brados de júbilo e toques de trombetas.

16 Quando a arca do Senhor se aproximou da Cidade de David, Mical, a filha de Saul, que estava observando da janela, viu David a saltar e a dançar na presença do Senhor e desprezou-o no seu íntimo.

17 Puseram pois a arca do Senhor numa tenda, no lugar que David tinha preparado. Depois David ofereceu holocaustos e ofertas de paz ao Senhor. 18 No final destas ofertas David abençoou o povo em nome do Senhor dos exércitos. 19 Distribuiu por cada um, homens e mulheres, um pão, um bolo de tâmaras e um bolo de uvas. Quando tudo terminou todos se retiraram.

20 David regressou a casa para abençoar a sua família. No entanto, Mical veio ao seu encontro e exclamou com um tom irónico: "Que ar glorioso tinha hoje o rei de Israel, expondo-se aos olhos das raparigas, ao longo das ruas, como um vadio qualquer!"

21 David respondeu-lhe: "Estive a dançar diante do Senhor, que me escolheu em lugar do teu pai e da tua família, e me nomeou chefe de Israel, o povo do Senhor! 22 Não me importo de me humilhar mais e rebaixar, como tu dizes, pois sei que mesmo assim serei respeitado pelas raparigas a quem te referias!"

23 E Mical não teve filhos durante toda a sua vida.

1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 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.*6.2 Baale: or, Baalah, that is, Kirjath-jearim*6.2 whose name…: or, at which the name, even the name of the LORD of hosts, was called upon 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: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.*6.3 set: Heb. made to ride*6.3 Gibeah: or, the hill 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.*6.4 accompanying: Heb. with 5 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.

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.*6.6 Nachon: also called Chidon*6.6 shook it: or, stumbled 7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.*6.7 error: or, rashness 8 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.*6.8 made: Heb. broken*6.8 Perez-uzzah: that is, the breach of Uzzah 9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? 10 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. 11 And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obed-edom, and all his household.

12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness. 13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. 16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

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: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.*6.17 pitched: Heb. stretched 18 And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!*6.20 shamelessly: or, openly 21 And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD. 22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.*6.22 of the…: or, of the handmaids of my servants 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.