1 Chronicles 15 29

1 Chronicles 15:29 kjv

And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal, the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 15:29 nkjv

And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 15:29 niv

As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 15:29 esv

And as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 15:29 nlt

But as the Ark of the LORD's Covenant entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David skipping about and laughing with joy, she was filled with contempt for him.

1 Chronicles 15 verses

1 Chronicles 15 29 Meaning

This verse describes Michal, daughter of Saul, observing King David's fervent worship as the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem. Seeing David express unreserved joy through dancing and celebrating, she inwardly disapproved and despised him in her heart for what she perceived as undignified behavior. It highlights a clash between the zealous devotion of David and Michal's regal, perhaps more conventional or prideful, perspective on the king's decorum during sacred rites.

1 Chronicles 15 29 Context

This verse occurs during a momentous occasion: the successful transfer of the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling place, from the house of Obed-Edom to Jerusalem, the "City of David." Chapters 13-16 of 1 Chronicles detail this significant event. The initial attempt to move the Ark (1 Chron 13) resulted in Uzzah's death because the Levites did not carry it according to the prescribed law. This failure led David to understand the profound reverence and order required in approaching God. Chapter 15 specifically describes David's meticulous preparations, consecrating the Levites, singers, and musicians to ensure the Ark was carried properly on poles, as commanded by the Law (Exod 25:13-15). The entire procession was filled with sacrifice, celebration, music, and great joy (1 Chron 15:25-28). Amidst this profound spiritual exultation, Michal's reaction in verse 29 stands in stark contrast. She represents a perspective rooted in human pride, royal decorum, and perhaps the lingering influence of her father Saul's less fervent devotion, setting her apart from David's unrestrained, God-centered worship.

1 Chronicles 15 29 Word analysis

• As the ark of the covenant of the LORD:
  • Ark: (Hebrew: אָרוֹן, aron) A chest, specifically the sacred container holding the Tablets of the Law. It symbolized God's presence, authority, and covenant relationship with Israel.
  • Covenant of the LORD: (Hebrew: בְּרִית יְהוָה, berit YHWH) Emphasizes God's solemn agreement and unwavering commitment to His people, with Yahweh as the faithful covenant-keeping God. Its presence signifies divine promises and power.
  • Significance: The central object of worship in Israel, embodying the divine presence. Its arrival in Jerusalem transformed the city into the spiritual capital, the chosen place for God's dwelling.
• came to the City of David:
  • City of David: (Hebrew: עִיר דָּוִד, ir Dawid) Jerusalem, specifically the oldest part, conquered by David. Its designation as "City of David" underscores its significance as the political and spiritual center chosen by God for David's kingdom and the future temple.
  • Significance: Marks a pivotal moment in Israelite history, unifying the nation politically and religiously under David's leadership and God's sovereign plan.
• Michal daughter of Saul:
  • Michal: (Hebrew: מִיכַל, Mikhal) Daughter of the first king, Saul, and David's wife. Her identity links her to the previous dynasty and its fall, perhaps coloring her perspective.
  • Daughter of Saul: Highlighting her lineage emphasizes her potential attachment to a more traditional, perhaps less spirit-filled, approach to kingship and religion than David's.
  • Significance: Her personal history and royal background set her up as a foil to David's character, contrasting earthly dignity with spiritual humility.
• looked out of a window:
  • Looked out: (Hebrew: נִשְׁקְפָה, nishkefah) Implies observing from a distance, passively and judgmentally, rather than participating in the joy.
  • Significance: Symbolizes her detachment and critical distance from the fervent worship. She is an observer, not a participant, foreshadowing her emotional and spiritual separation from David.
• When she saw King David dancing and celebrating:
  • King David: His title is noted here, highlighting the clash of expectations regarding a king's behavior.
  • Dancing: (Hebrew: מְרַקֵּד, meraḳed) Denotes energetic, vigorous dancing, often in a circular motion or leaping. This was an intense, joyful physical expression of worship.
  • Celebrating: (Hebrew: וּמְשַׂחֵק, u'mesaḥek) Means "playing," "rejoicing," or "making merry." It suggests joyous festivity, possibly involving music and playful expressions of delight.
  • Significance: David's actions reflect unrestrained, unashamed adoration before God, demonstrating his humility and passion. His dancing before the Ark underscores his role as a spiritual leader and a man after God's own heart, rather than just a monarch focused on his royal image. This public display would have seemed "undignified" to those concerned with kingly majesty alone.
• she despised him in her heart:
  • Despised: (Hebrew: בָּזַת, bazat) A strong verb meaning to regard with contempt, disdain, scorn, or loathing. It indicates an intense inner rejection.
  • In her heart: (Hebrew: בְּלִבָּהּ, b'libah) Indicates that this was an internal, private judgment, not yet verbalized. Her deep-seated thoughts and attitudes are revealed, signifying a fundamental disconnect from David's spiritual values.
  • Significance: This is the core of the verse. It reveals Michal's spiritual and personal disconnect from David's devoutness. Her contempt for his expression of worship speaks volumes about her priorities— valuing external decorum over genuine reverence for God and the King chosen by Him. It foreshadows the growing alienation between them.

1 Chronicles 15 29 Bonus section

The incident involving Michal’s disdain for David's worship carries polemic undertones. It stands against the common Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) perception of kingship, where monarchs were often viewed as divine or semi-divine figures who maintained rigid decorum and elevated status. David's actions directly challenged this by humbling himself to the level of his subjects (or even below, in Michal's view), demonstrating that his ultimate authority came from Yahweh and that he was subject to Him, capable of undignified public displays of worship. This subversion of typical royal image underscored the unique nature of Israelite kingship under God's covenant. Michal's scorn therefore reflects a adherence to a pagan-influenced, image-driven understanding of power, contrasting sharply with David’s radical Yahwism that celebrated the humble worship of the divine King. The text highlights that genuine worship often appears foolish or undignified to the worldly mindset, much like the cross of Christ would later be seen as a scandal (1 Cor 1:23).

1 Chronicles 15 29 Commentary

1 Chronicles 15:29 serves as a stark contrast within the otherwise joyous narrative of the Ark's relocation to Jerusalem. David, filled with overflowing gratitude and humility, abandoned royal dignity to dance and celebrate with total devotion before the Lord. Michal's reaction—despising him in her heart—exposes a profound spiritual chasm. Her contempt likely stemmed from a prideful, worldly view of kingship that prioritized outward decorum and aristocratic appearance over spontaneous, Spirit-led worship. She, a princess of Saul's house, valued an earthly king's reputation more than God's glory. This incident is not merely a marital dispute but a theological conflict, highlighting the difference between superficial religion and authentic, heartfelt devotion. David’s willingness to humble himself for the Lord sharply contrasts with Michal's disdain, demonstrating that true worship requires abandoning self-consciousness and focusing solely on God, regardless of what others might perceive as "undignified."