II Samuel 6:1-6:19

1. David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2. David arose, and went with all the people who were with him, from Baale Judah, to bring up from there G-d’s ark, which is called by the Name, even the name of יהוה of Armies who sits above the cherubim.

3. They set G-d’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

4. They brought it out of Abinadab’s house, which was in the hill, with God’s ark; and Ahio went before the ark.

5. David and all the house of Israel played before יהוה with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with castanets, and with cymbals.

6. When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached for G-d’s ark, and took hold of it; for the cattle stumbled.

7. יהוה’s anger burned against Uzzah; and G-d struck him there for his error; and he died there by God’s ark.

8. David was displeased, because יהוה had broken out against Uzzah; and he called that place Perez Uzzah, to this day.

9. David was afraid of יהוה that day; and he said, “How could יהוה’s ark come to me?”

10. So David would not move יהוה’s ark to be with him in David’s city; but David carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.

11. יהוה’s ark remained in Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house three months; and יהוה blessed Obed-Edom and all his house.

12. King David was told, “ יהוה has blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that belongs to him, because of God’s ark.” So David went and brought up God’s ark from the house of Obed-Edom into David’s city with joy.

13. When those who bore יהוה’s ark had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

14. David danced before יהוה with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.

15. So David and all the house of Israel brought up יהוה’s ark with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16. As יהוה’s ark came into David’s city, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out through the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before יהוה; and she despised him in her heart.

17. They brought in יהוה’s ark, and set it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before יהוה.

18. When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of יהוה of Armies.

19. He gave to all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, to everyone a portion of bread, dates, and raisins. So all the people departed, each to his own house.

Etz Chaim

It is a tree of life for those who cling to it,

and those who uphold it are happy.

Its ways are pleasant and all of its paths peaceful.

Return us to You, Lord, so that we shall return,

Renew our days, as of old.