2 Samuel

Wheel of Heaven Translation

2 Samuel 6: the ark of the Elohim brought up to the city of David, and the breach of Uzzah

Direct

Established or uncontested across mainstream sources, or a direct description of the project itself.

2 Samuel (Hebrew Shemu'el) tells of David's reign. This translation covers 2 Samuel 6, the chapter that the Raëlian canon cites:

6:1–11: David sets out to bring up "the ark of the Elohim, which is called by the name, the name of YHWH of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim"; Uzzah takes hold of the ark and dies beside it
6:12–23: the ark enters the city of David, David dances before YHWH, and Mikhal (Michal) despises him

Verses with a note end in a bracketed marker [ ]; select it to open the note.

About this translation

Edition: Pointed Hebrew Masoretic text of the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain), via Sefaria. The English translation and notes are released CC0.
Coverage: Chapter 6 translated (23 verses): every chapter of the book cited in the Raëlian canon. The rest of the book is not translated.
Review status: Reviewed and signed off.

2 Samuel 6 — The ark of the Elohim brought up to the city of David; the breach of Uzzah

And David again gathered all the chosen men of Yisra'el, thirty thousand.

And it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

וַיֹּ֨סֶף ע֥וֹד דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־כָּל־בָּח֥וּר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים אָֽלֶף׃

And David arose and went, with all the people who were with him, from Ba'alei-Yehudah, to bring up from there the ark of the Elohim, which is called by the name, the name of YHWH of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim.

it came to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

וַיָּ֣קָם ׀ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וְכָל־הָעָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ מִֽבַּעֲלֵ֖י יְהוּדָ֑ה לְהַעֲל֣וֹת מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֚ת אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁר־נִקְרָ֣א שֵׁ֗ם שֵׁ֣ם יְהוָ֧ה צְבָא֛וֹת יֹשֵׁ֥ב הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים עָלָֽיו׃

And they set the ark of the Elohim on a new cart, and carried it from the house of Avinadav, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav, were driving the new cart.

And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

וַיַּרְכִּ֜בוּ אֶת־אֲר֤וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־עֲגָלָ֣ה חֲדָשָׁ֔ה וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֔הוּ מִבֵּ֥ית אֲבִינָדָ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֑ה וְעֻזָּ֣א וְאַחְי֗וֹ בְּנֵי֙ אֲבִ֣ינָדָ֔ב נֹהֲגִ֖ים אֶת־הָעֲגָלָ֥ה חֲדָשָֽׁה׃

And they carried it from the house of Avinadav, which was on the hill, with the ark of the Elohim; and Achyo was walking before the ark.

And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

וַיִּשָּׂאֻ֗הוּ מִבֵּ֤ית אֲבִֽינָדָב֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּגִּבְעָ֔ה עִ֖ם אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְאַחְי֕וֹ הֹלֵ֖ךְ לִפְנֵ֥י הָאָרֽוֹן׃

And David and all the house of Yisra'el were playing before YHWH with all kinds of instruments of fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.

And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?

וְדָוִ֣ד ׀ וְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל מְשַֽׂחֲקִים֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה בְּכֹ֖ל עֲצֵ֣י בְרוֹשִׁ֑ים וּבְכִנֹּר֤וֹת וּבִנְבָלִים֙ וּבְתֻפִּ֔ים וּבִמְנַֽעַנְעִ֖ים וּֽבְצֶלְצֶלִֽים׃

And when they came to the threshing floor of Nakhon, Uzzah reached out to the ark of the Elohim and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.

And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul was leaning upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and the horsemen followed hard after him.

וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ עַד־גֹּ֣רֶן נָכ֑וֹן וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח עֻזָּ֜א אֶל־אֲר֤וֹן הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ וַיֹּ֣אחֶז בּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י שָׁמְט֖וּ הַבָּקָֽר׃

And the anger of YHWH was kindled against Uzzah, and the Elohim struck him there for his error; and he died there beside the ark of the Elohim.

And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֤ף יְהוָה֙ בְּעֻזָּ֔ה וַיַּכֵּ֥הוּ שָׁ֛ם הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַל־הַשַּׁ֑ל וַיָּ֣מָת שָׁ֔ם עִ֖ם אֲר֥וֹן הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

And David was displeased, because YHWH had broken out with a breach against Uzzah; and he called that place Peretz-Uzzah, to this day.

And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

וַיִּ֣חַר לְדָוִ֔ד עַל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר פָּרַ֧ץ יְהוָ֛ה פֶּ֖רֶץ בְּעֻזָּ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֞א לַמָּק֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ פֶּ֣רֶץ עֻזָּ֔ה עַ֖ד הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

And David was afraid of YHWH that day, and he said, "How shall the ark of YHWH come to me?"

And he said unto me, Stand, I pray thee, beside me, and slay me; for anguish hath taken hold of me, because my life is yet whole in me.

וַיִּרָ֥א דָוִ֛ד אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֵ֛יךְ יָב֥וֹא אֵלַ֖י אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָֽה׃

So David was not willing to move the ark of YHWH to himself into the city of David; but David turned it aside to the house of Oved-Edom the Gittite.

So I stood beside him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

וְלֹֽא־אָבָ֣ה דָוִ֗ד לְהָסִ֥יר אֵלָ֛יו אֶת־אֲר֥וֹן יְהוָ֖ה עַל־עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּטֵּ֣הוּ דָוִ֔ד בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־אֱד֖וֹם הַגִּתִּֽי׃

And the ark of YHWH remained in the house of Oved-Edom the Gittite three months; and YHWH blessed Oved-Edom and all his household.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

וַיֵּשֶׁב֩ אֲר֨וֹן יְהוָ֜ה בֵּ֣ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם הַגִּתִּ֖י שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳדָשִׁ֑ים וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־כָּל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

And it was told King David, saying, "YHWH has blessed the house of Oved-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of the Elohim." And David went and brought up the ark of the Elohim from the house of Oved-Edom into the city of David with rejoicing.

and they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of Jehovah, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

וַיֻּגַּ֗ד לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִד֮ לֵאמֹר֒ בֵּרַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה אֶת־בֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֤ד אֱדֹם֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֗ד וַיַּעַל֩ אֶת־אֲר֨וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֜ים מִבֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם עִ֥יר דָּוִ֖ד בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃

And it came to pass, when those who carried the ark of YHWH had gone six paces, that he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.

וַיְהִ֗י כִּ֧י צָעֲד֛וּ נֹשְׂאֵ֥י אֲרוֹן־יְהוָ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֣ה צְעָדִ֑ים וַיִּזְבַּ֥ח שׁ֖וֹר וּמְרִֽיא׃

And David danced before YHWH with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to put forth thy hand to destroy Jehovah`s anointed?

וְדָוִ֛ד מְכַרְכֵּ֥ר בְּכָל־עֹ֖ז לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְדָוִ֕ד חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃

So David and all the house of Yisra'el brought up the ark of YHWH with shouting and with the sound of the shofar.

And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him, so that he died.

וְדָוִד֙ וְכָל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מַעֲלִ֖ים אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֑ה בִּתְרוּעָ֖ה וּבְק֥וֹל שׁוֹפָֽר׃

And it came to pass, as the ark of YHWH came into the city of David, that Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul looked out through the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before YHWH; and she despised him in her heart.

And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain Jehovah`s anointed.

וְהָיָה֙ אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֔ה בָּ֖א עִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וּמִיכַ֨ל בַּת־שָׁא֜וּל נִשְׁקְפָ֣ה ׀ בְּעַ֣ד הַחַלּ֗וֹן וַתֵּ֨רֶא אֶת־הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ דָּוִד֙ מְפַזֵּ֤ז וּמְכַרְכֵּר֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה וַתִּ֥בֶז ל֖וֹ בְּלִבָּֽהּ׃

And they brought in the ark of YHWH and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings before YHWH, and peace-offerings.

And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son

וַיָּבִ֜אוּ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן יְהוָ֗ה וַיַּצִּ֤גוּ אֹתוֹ֙ בִּמְקוֹמ֔וֹ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָאֹ֔הֶל אֲשֶׁ֥ר נָטָה־ל֖וֹ דָּוִ֑ד וַיַּ֨עַל דָּוִ֥ד עֹל֛וֹת לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וּשְׁלָמִֽים׃

And when David had finished offering the burnt-offering and the peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of YHWH of hosts.

(and he bade them teach the children of Judah [the song of] the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jashar):

וַיְכַ֣ל דָּוִ֔ד מֵהַעֲל֥וֹת הָעוֹלָ֖ה וְהַשְּׁלָמִ֑ים וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם בְּשֵׁ֖ם יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃

And he distributed to all the people, to the whole multitude of Yisra'el, both men and women, to each one a cake of bread, and a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people went away, each to his house.

Thy glory, O Israel, is slain upon thy high places! How are the mighty fallen!

וַיְחַלֵּ֨ק לְכָל־הָעָ֜ם לְכָל־הֲמ֣וֹן יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לְמֵאִ֣ישׁ וְעַד־אִשָּׁה֒ לְאִ֗ישׁ חַלַּ֥ת לֶ֙חֶם֙ אַחַ֔ת וְאֶשְׁפָּ֣ר אֶחָ֔ד וַאֲשִׁישָׁ֖ה אֶחָ֑ת וַיֵּ֥לֶךְ כָּל־הָעָ֖ם אִ֥ישׁ לְבֵיתֽוֹ׃

Then David returned to bless his household. And Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul came out to meet David and said, "How glorious the king of Yisra'el was today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the maidservants of his servants, as one of the worthless fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!"

Tell it not in Gath, Publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

וַיָּ֥שָׁב דָּוִ֖ד לְבָרֵ֣ךְ אֶת־בֵּית֑וֹ וַתֵּצֵ֞א מִיכַ֤ל בַּת־שָׁאוּל֙ לִקְרַ֣את דָּוִ֔ד וַתֹּ֗אמֶר מַה־נִּכְבַּ֨ד הַיּ֜וֹם מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִגְלָ֤ה הַיּוֹם֙ לְעֵינֵ֨י אַמְה֣וֹת עֲבָדָ֔יו כְּהִגָּל֥וֹת נִגְל֖וֹת אַחַ֥ד הָרֵקִֽים׃

And David said to Mikhal, "It was before YHWH, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of YHWH, over Yisra'el; and I will play before YHWH.

Ye mountains of Gilboa, Let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of offerings: For there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, The shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר דָּוִד֮ אֶל־מִיכַל֒ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּֽחַר־בִּ֤י מֵֽאָבִיךְ֙ וּמִכָּל־בֵּית֔וֹ לְצַוֺּ֨ת אֹתִ֥י נָגִ֛יד עַל־עַ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְשִׂחַקְתִּ֖י לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

And I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be lowly in my own eyes; but with the maidservants of whom you have spoken, with them I shall be held in honor."

From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, The bow of Jonathan turned not back, And the sword of Saul returned not empty.

וּנְקַלֹּ֤תִי עוֹד֙ מִזֹּ֔את וְהָיִ֥יתִי שָׁפָ֖ל בְּעֵינָ֑י וְעִם־הָֽאֲמָהוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֔רְתְּ עִמָּ֖ם אִכָּבֵֽדָה׃

And Mikhal the daughter of Sha'ul had no child to the day of her death.

Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, And in their death they were not divided: They were swifter than eagles, They were stronger than lions.

וּלְמִיכַל֙ בַּת־שָׁא֔וּל לֹֽא־הָ֥יָה לָ֖הּ יָ֑לֶד עַ֖ד י֥וֹם מוֹתָֽהּ׃ (פ)

Editorial history

Review record. The chapter file carries status: stable (v1.0.0) with a named human reviewer (zarazinsfuss), signed off on 2026-11-02 in wave MC of the canon-cited program. The editor report, the reviewer reports in the chapter files and the sign-off summary (data-library/canon-cited-mc-signoff-summary.md) record every decision.

Selection. Part of the program to translate, as whole chapters, every biblical chapter that the three Raëlian canon books (The Book Which Tells the Truth, Extra-Terrestrials Took Me to Their Planet, Let's Welcome the Extra-Terrestrials) cite. The program is complete: all 98 cited chapters are translated. The last eleven (Leviticus 17 and 25, Numbers 11, Joshua 3, Judges 7, 2 Samuel 6, Micah 5, Tobit 12, Wisdom 6, Revelation 5 and 1 Thessalonians 5) were signed off on 2026-11-02 in wave MC.

Conventions. As in the Kings volumes, proper names are transliterated from the Hebrew with "-ite" gentilics, and each chapter title gives the English form. Šāmayim is "skies" or "heaven(s)" by register; ḥērem is "devote(d) to destruction". The canon's readings appear only in notes headed "Wheel of Heaven reading (reception note, not a translation claim)".

Production. Drafted by Claude Opus 5.5 and taken through the Wheel of Heaven Translation Program pipeline (Translator → Editor → Reviewer → human sign-off). Central glossary 2.90.0–2.93.0; 2-samuel-woh overlay v1.0.0. Reference translation: ASV (1901). Methodology: Source-Text Translation.

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2 Samuel

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2 Samuel 6 — The ark of the Elohim brought up to the city of David; the breach of Uzzah

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