Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 6
The ark was the box that God told Moses to make in Exodus 25:10-22. At Moses’ direction, skilled workmen made it out of wood, and they covered the wood with gold (Exodus 35:30 to 36:1 and 37:1-9). They followed exactly the pattern that God had shown to Moses (Exodus 25:9).
Inside the ark there were the special objects that provided evidence of God’s relationship with Israel (1 Kings 8:9; Hebrews 9:4).
Above the ark, there were the images of two cherubim. The cherubim are special angels that have the responsibility to guard the most holy things (Genesis 3:24).
The proper place for the ark was in the most holy place in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was the sacred tent where God chose to live among Israel’s people. David wanted to replace the tabernacle with a special building in Jerusalem, the house of God called the temple (7:1-7). God did not permit David to build the temple; his son, Solomon built it (7:12-13).
At the present time, however, the ark was not in its proper place. For many years, it had remained in the house of a man called Abinadab. His house was in a town called Baalah of Judah, which seems to be the original name of Kiriath Jearim (1 Samuel 7:1; 1 Chronicles 13:6). For that reason, David wanted to bring it into his new capital city, Jerusalem. He considered that to be a good way to give honour to God.
Next part: The cart that carried the ark (2 Samuel 6:3-4)
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© 2023, Keith Simons.