David and Michal

16 As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart. 17 And they brought in the ark of the Lord and set it (A)in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it. (B)And David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. 18 And when David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the peace offerings, (C)he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts 19 and distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, a cake of bread, a portion of meat,[a] and a cake of raisins to each one. (D)Then all the people departed, each to his house.

20 And David returned to bless his household. But Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, (E)uncovering himself today before the eyes of his servants' female servants, as one of the (F)vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” 21 And David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, (G)who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince[b] over Israel, the people of the Lord—and I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your[c] eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I shall be held in honor.” 23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Samuel 6:19 Vulgate; the meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain
  2. 2 Samuel 6:21 Or leader
  3. 2 Samuel 6:22 Septuagint; Hebrew my

16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David,(A) Michal(B) daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,(C) and David sacrificed burnt offerings(D) and fellowship offerings before the Lord. 18 After he had finished sacrificing(E) the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed(F) the people in the name of the Lord Almighty. 19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins(G) to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women.(H) And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked(I) in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed(J) me ruler(K) over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

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