2 Samuel 6:11 kjv
And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household.
2 Samuel 6:11 nkjv
The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household.
2 Samuel 6:11 niv
The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.
2 Samuel 6:11 esv
And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.
2 Samuel 6:11 nlt
The Ark of the LORD remained there in Obed-edom's house for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.
2 Samuel 6 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:2 | And all these blessings shall come upon you... if you obey the voice of the LORD your God. | Blessing for obedience |
| Josh 6:19 | But all silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD. | Consecrated things |
| 1 Sam 4:21 | And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!"... | Glory departed with the Ark |
| 1 Sam 6:19 | He struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh... for looking into the ark of the LORD. | Judgment for disrespecting the Ark |
| 1 Chr 13:10 | And the anger of the LORD burst out against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put out his hand to the ark. | Uzzah's death for presumption |
| 1 Chr 13:12 | David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of God to me?" | David's fear after Uzzah's death |
| Num 4:15 | When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects... then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them... | Proper carriers for sacred objects |
| Exod 25:12 | You shall cast four rings of gold for it... for poles with which to carry it. | Command for carrying the Ark |
| 1 Kgs 8:11 | so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. | God's presence filling the Temple |
| Psa 5:12 | For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you surround him with favor as with a shield. | God blesses the righteous |
| Psa 112:1-3 | Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! ...Wealth and riches are in his house... | Blessing on those who fear God |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth... so will your barns be filled with plenty... | Blessing through honoring God |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... test Me... if I will not pour out for you a blessing... | Experiencing God's blessing through obedience |
| Hag 1:6 | You have sown much, but harvested little. You eat, but are not satisfied... | Lack of blessing due to disobedience |
| Matt 10:41 | The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward... | Blessing for hospitality |
| 2 Cor 9:6 | Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Sowing and reaping blessing |
| Gal 6:7-9 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Heb 9:3-4 | Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. | Ark's presence in the Tabernacle/Temple |
| Rev 11:19 | Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of His covenant was seen within His temple... | The Ark in heaven (symbolic) |
| Isa 3:10 | Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. | Prosperity for the righteous |
| 1 Chr 26:4-8 | Obed-Edom's family as gatekeepers for the Ark... he had sixty-two children for God blessed him. | Obed-Edom's continued blessing/family growth |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective censers... and fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them. | Judgment for improper worship/approach |
2 Samuel 6 verses
2 Samuel 6 11 Meaning
This verse recounts the Ark of the Covenant's stay at Obed-Edom's home for three months, during which the Lord remarkably blessed Obed-Edom and his entire household. It demonstrates that the presence of God, when revered and handled according to divine protocols, brings abundant favor and prosperity. It stands in stark contrast to the preceding event of Uzzah's death, highlighting that God's presence can be a source of blessing or judgment depending on the approach and obedience of those who interact with it.
2 Samuel 6 11 Context
Prior to this verse, King David was attempting to bring the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing God's presence, to Jerusalem. During this journey, Uzzah, one of the men handling the cart bearing the Ark, reached out to steady it when the oxen stumbled. Because he touched the sacred Ark improperly (contrary to Mosaic Law that only Levite Kohathites could carry it on poles and never touch it directly), God struck him dead. This event filled David with fear and halted the Ark's procession. Rather than bringing it into Jerusalem as planned, David left it at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. This verse then describes the miraculous blessing that rested upon Obed-Edom during the three months the Ark resided in his home, serving as a powerful demonstration to David of God's desire to bless those who approach Him with reverence and according to His established commands. Obed-Edom is later identified as a Levite of the Kohathite lineage (1 Chron 26:4-8), from Gath-Rimmon, a Levitical city. This implies he was uniquely qualified and likely knew how to handle the Ark according to divine law, leading to God's blessing, unlike Uzzah's unauthorized handling.
2 Samuel 6 11 Word analysis
And the ark of the LORD (וַאֲרוֹן יְהוָה - wa'ărōn YHWH): The "Ark of the LORD" is the Ark of the Covenant, the holiest object in ancient Israel, representing God's throne, presence, and covenant faithfulness. Its presence signifies the active dwelling and power of Yahweh. The term "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes the covenant God of Israel.
remained (וַתֵּשֶׁב - wattešab): From the root yāshab, meaning "to sit," "dwell," "settle," or "abide." This verb conveys that the Ark had a settled and fixed stay, implying God's enduring presence in that location, not just a transient visit.
in the house of Obed-Edom: Obed-Edom's home became the unexpected temporary sanctuary for God's presence. This emphasizes that God's blessing can manifest even in an ordinary dwelling when His presence is honored.
the Gittite (הַגִּתִּי - hag-Gittî): This designation historically points to someone from Gath. However, later Old Testament texts clarify that Obed-Edom was a Levite, a descendant of Korah (1 Chr 26:1), and part of the Kohathite clan responsible for carrying the Ark (1 Chr 15:18, 24). Scholarly consensus understands "Gittite" here to refer to Gath-Rimmon, a Levitical city in the territory of Dan (Josh 21:24-25, 1 Chr 6:69), rather than the Philistine city of Gath. This identity as a Levite who likely understood the proper protocols for the Ark is crucial to why he was blessed, in stark contrast to Uzzah's unauthorized act. It implicitly forms a polemic against pagan beliefs where divine power might strike arbitrarily; here, divine blessing is a consequence of covenantal obedience.
three months (שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים - šəlōšāh ḥodāšîm): This specific duration suggests a testing period or a time of observable divine demonstration. It was sufficient time for the blessing to be undeniably evident, confirming God's favor when His holiness is properly revered.
And the LORD blessed (וַיְבָרֶךְ יְהוָה - wāyəbārek YHWH): This signifies an active, divine action. The verb bārak means to endue with power for prosperity, fertility, and well-being. It is a direct act of God bestowing favor.
Obed-Edom and all his household: The blessing extended beyond Obed-Edom himself to encompass his entire family and dependants. This underscores the comprehensive nature of God's blessing, affecting the communal unit, which was particularly significant in ancient Near Eastern culture.
Words-group analysis:
- "And the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom... And the LORD blessed Obed-Edom": This grouping highlights the direct cause-and-effect relationship. The dwelling of God's presence, when appropriately handled, becomes the catalyst for divine blessing. It reveals God's nature to pour out favor where His sacred things are respected.
- "the Gittite... three months... blessed Obed-Edom and all his household": This combination draws attention to the contrast between David's fear and the clear, measurable manifestation of God's blessing. The "Gittite" (understood as the reverent Levite) signifies proper adherence, leading to the demonstrable "three months" of abundant blessing on the "household," confirming God's faithfulness to those who obey His commands.
2 Samuel 6 11 Bonus section
The experience at Obed-Edom's house directly taught David that reverence and obedience to God's established protocols for handling sacred things lead to blessing, whereas human presumption and shortcuts lead to judgment. This understanding fundamentally changed how David proceeded with bringing the Ark into Jerusalem (recounted in the following verses, 2 Sam 6:12-15), emphasizing the proper carrying by Levites and sacrificial offerings. The account of Obed-Edom also contains a subtle polemic against the notion prevalent in surrounding cultures that deities were unpredictable or inherently dangerous regardless of human action. Instead, the Israelite God, Yahweh, demonstrates consistent principles of judgment for disobedience and blessing for faithful obedience, showing His character is just and benevolent. Later, Obed-Edom and his sons continued to be entrusted with significant roles as gatekeepers for the Ark and the tabernacle (1 Chron 15:18, 16:38, 26:4-8), indicating that the divine blessing manifested as continued favor and trust. The emphasis on the "household" prefigures the communal and generational blessing that results from faithfully stewarding God's presence, extending to subsequent generations of Obed-Edom's family.
2 Samuel 6 11 Commentary
2 Samuel 6:11 marks a crucial turning point in David's understanding of God's holiness and presence. The preceding tragedy of Uzzah's death had instilled fear in David, halting his jubilant procession to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. By contrast, Obed-Edom's house became a temporary sanctuary where the Ark, God's sacred dwelling place, brought extraordinary blessing. This demonstrated that God's holiness, though fearsome when violated, is also the source of abundant life and prosperity when approached with reverence, according to divine law. The blessing encompassed Obed-Edom's entire household, symbolizing comprehensive favor and prosperity, likely material, familial, and general well-being. This provided incontrovertible evidence to David that the issue was not God's presence itself, but rather how one interacts with it. The three months provided a sufficient period to observe this consistent and undeniable blessing, prompting David to correctly resume the transfer of the Ark with the proper respect and Levitical procedures. It's a timeless principle: blessing flows from rightly engaging with God and His commands.