2 Samuel — Chapter 6

David arose and led all Israel to bring the Ark of God from Gabaah. Lapide: the title of the Ark — \"the Lord of hosts who sitteth upon the cherubim\" — is a Hebraism for the Ark over which God gave oracles through the Angel who appeared from the cloud.

The Ark was placed on a new cart. Lapide calls this an error of David or rather a sin of the Levites, since God had commanded the Ark to be carried on the shoulders of the priests or Levites (Num. 4:15), not conveyed on a cart.

Uzzah stretched forth his hand to the Ark and held it lest it fall. Lapide gives six reasons proposed by the Fathers for why God struck Uzzah: (1) Jerome: he placed the Ark on a cart rather than carry it on shoulders; (2) Some: he was unclean that day; (3) Pacian: he acted without examined conscience; (4) Abulensis: irreverence in touching it without necessity; (5) Some: he was not wearing sacred vestments; (6) Most probable (Josephus): Uzzah was a Levite, not a priest; only priests were permitted to touch the Ark (Num. 4:15).

And the Lord was angry with Uzzah and struck him for his rashness. Lapide: Angelomus and others believe Uzzah, punished by temporal death, escaped eternal death. Allegorically: the Ark of the New Testament is the Blessed Eucharist — we must approach it with greater purity than Uzzah showed toward the Ark of the Old.

David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying: How shall the ark of the Lord come to me? Lapide notes David's holy fear; he chose to send the Ark to Obed-edom rather than bring it to himself while uncertain of God's favor.

And the Lord blessed Obed-edom and all his household. Lapide notes Josephus says Obed-edom was poor but just and a Levite; the Hebrews tradition says all his wives and daughters-in-law bore male children and his animals twins. So great is the blessing of hospitality to sacred things.

And David danced with all his might before the Lord. Lapide: S. Ambrose (Serm. 25 De Sanctis) gives the mystical reason — David in spirit foresaw Mary of his lineage united to Christ as His tabernacle. \"What else shall we call the Ark but holy Mary? For the Ark bore within it the tables of the covenant; Mary bore the Heir of the covenant.\" (S. Ambrose)

Michol daughter of Saul looked out the window and saw David leaping and dancing, and she despised him in her heart. Lapide: Michol represents the synagogue or the carnal-minded who despise the devotion of those who humble themselves before God. Her barrenness is the punishment of pride.

And Michol the daughter of Saul coming out to meet David, said: How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself before the handmaids of his servants, and was naked, as if one of the buffoons should be naked. Lapide: David replies, \"I will both play and make myself meaner than I have done; and I will be little in my own eyes.\" True glory is humility. Thomas More, Chancellor of England, imitated David in singing in choir with surplice, and when rebuked by the Duke of Norfolk replied: \"What displeases the Lord King cannot displease the King of kings, to whom I render this service.\"

Therefore Michol the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death. Lapide: \"Michol\" in Hebrew means \"all water\" (Eucherius); water is the symbol of persecution; those who are puffed up with carnal sense against spiritual devotion are made spiritually barren.