2 Samuel 6:16

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) She despised him.—The contrast is here strongly brought out between the spirit of Saul’s house in which Michal had been brought up, and that of David. In Saul’s time the ark had been neglected, and true religion was uncared for. Michal, therefore, who had fallen in love with David as a brave hero, could not understand the religious enthusiasm which led him to rank himself among the common people before the Lord.

Benson Commentary

2 Samuel 6:16. She despised him in her heart — Imagining that he debased himself by stripping himself of the ornaments of majesty, and dancing among the common people. She had no knowledge nor conception, it appears, of those emotions of divine love which David felt, and which he declared to her afterward.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:12-19 It became evident, that happy was the man who had the ark near him. Christ is indeed a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those that believe, he is a Corner-stone, elect, precious, 1Pe 2:6-8. Let us be religious. Is the ark a blessing to others' houses? We may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it away from our neighbours. David, at first setting out, offered sacrifices to God. We are likely to speed in our enterprises, when we begin with God, and give diligence to seek peace with him. And we are so unworthy, and our services are so defiled, that all our joy in God must be connected with repentance and faith in the Redeemer's atoning blood. David attended with high expressions of joy. We ought to serve God with our whole body and soul, and with every endowment and power we possess. On this occasion David laid aside his royal robes, and put on a plain linen dress. David prayed with and for the people, and as a prophet, solemnly blessed them in the name of the Lord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

She despised him in her heart - In the days of Saul the ark had been neglected 1 Chronicles 13:3, and Saul had in everything shown himself to be an irreligious king. Michal seems to have been of a like spirit.

The whole section, 2 Samuel 6:16-36, should be compared with 1 Chronicles 15:29; 1 Chronicles 16:43.

The peace offerings were with a special view to feasting the people. (Compare 1 Kings 8:63-66.)

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14. David danced before the Lord—The Hebrews, like other ancient people, had their sacred dances, which were performed on their solemn anniversaries and other great occasions of commemorating some special token of the divine goodness and favor.

with all his might—intimating violent efforts of leaping, and divested of his royal mantle (in a state of undress), conduct apparently unsuitable to the gravity of age or the dignity of a king. But it was unquestionably done as an act of religious homage, his attitudes and dress being symbolic, as they have always been in Oriental countries, of penitence, joy, thankfulness, and devotion. [See on [265]1Ch 15:27.]

Matthew Poole's Commentary

As one of a base and mean spirit, that knew not how to carry himself with that majesty which became his place, but behaved himself like one of the fools or vain persons in Israel.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David,.... Being brought thither on the shoulders of the Levites:

Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window; in the king's palace, to see the procession, which was very grand, and in great pomp, attended by a vast number of people, and with music of all sorts. She is said to be Saul's daughter, though David's wife, as having a good deal of her father's haughty temper and disposition, as appears by what follows:

and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; the ark of the Lord, by these outward gestures expressing the inward joy of his heart on this occasion:

and she despised him in her heart; as acting a mean part, quite beneath himself, and unbecoming his royal dignity.

Geneva Study Bible

And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she {h} despised him in her heart.

(h) The worldlings are not able to comprehend the emotions that move the children of God to praise God in all kinds of ways.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. leaping and dancing] Two peculiar words, the first found here only, the second only here and in 2 Samuel 6:14, are used to denote the special modes of dancing anciently employed in religious solemnities. In 1 Chronicles 15:29 two verbs in ordinary use have been substituted, shewing that these distinctive terms had become obsolete.

she despised him] The proud daughter of the house of Saul was incapable of appreciating the honour of humility.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Michal Saul's daughter. Possibly these words are merely to identify Michal, but they suggest the thought that, as a king's daughter, she valued her royal dignity. The procession evidently passed near David's palace, and his wives and children would be eager spectators. 2 Samuel 6:16

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

When the ark came (i.e., was carried) into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and there she saw king David leaping and dancing before Jehovah, and despised him in her heart. והיה, "and it came to pass," for ויהי, because there is no progress made, but only another element introduced. בּא is a perfect: "the ark had come, ... and Michal looked through the window, ... there she saw," etc. Michal is intentionally designated the daughter of Saul here, instead of the wife of David, because on this occasion she manifested her father's disposition rather than her husband's. In Saul's time people did not trouble themselves about the ark of the covenant (1 Chronicles 13:3); public worship was neglected, and the soul for vital religion had died out in the family of the king. Michal possessed teraphim, and in David she only loved the brave hero and exalted king: she therefore took offence at the humility with which the king, in his pious enthusiasm, placed himself on an equality with all the rest of the nation before the Lord.