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Selected Verse: 2 Samuel 6:20 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
2Sa 6:20	Strong Concordance	Then David [01732] returned [07725] to bless [01288] his household [01004]. And Michal [04324] the daughter [01323] of Saul [07586] came out [03318] to meet [07125] David [01732], and said [0559], How glorious [03513] was the king [04428] of Israel [03478] to day [03117], who uncovered [01540] himself to day [03117] in the eyes [05869] of the handmaids [0519] of his servants [05650], as one [0259] of the vain fellows [07386] shamelessly [01540] uncovereth [01540] himself!
	King James	Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
MICHAL'S BARRENNESS. (Sa2 6:20-23) Michal . . . came out to meet David, &c.--Proud of her royal extraction, she upbraided her husband for lowering the dignity of the crown and acting more like a buffoon than a king. But her taunting sarcasm was repelled in a manner that could not be agreeable to her feelings while it indicated the warm piety and gratitude of David.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

MICHAL'S BARRENNESS. (Sa2 6:20-23)

Michal . . . came out to meet David, &c.--Proud of her royal extraction, she upbraided her husband for lowering the dignity of the crown and acting more like a buffoon than a king. But her taunting sarcasm was repelled in a manner that could not be agreeable to her feelings while it indicated the warm piety and gratitude of David.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Then David returned ... - He had passed his house to accompany the ark to the tabernacle he had pitched for it, when Michal saw him dancing. He now returns to bless his household. He had blessed the people Sa2 6:18, but there were the inmates of his own house whom the customs of the age did not allow to be present, and so, with his usual considerate kindness and affection, David came to bless them also on this solemn occasion.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
When David returned home to bless his house, as he had previously blessed the people, Michal came to meet him with scornful words, saying, "How has the king of Israel glorified himself to-day, when he stripped himself before the eyes of the maids of his servants, as only one of the loose people strips himself!" The unusual combination נגלות כּהגּלות is explained by Ewald (240, e., p. 607) in this manner, that whilst, so far as the sense of the clause is concerned, the second verb ought to be in the infinitive absolute, they were both written with a very slight change of form in the infinitive construct; whereas others regard נגלות as an unusual form of the infinitive absolute (Ges. Lehrgeb. p. 430), or a copyist's error for נגלה (Thenius, Olsh. Gr. p. 600). The proud daughter of Saul was offended at the fact, that the king had let himself down on this occasion to the level of the people. She availed herself of the shortness of the priests' shoulder-dress, to make a contemptuous remark concerning David's dancing, as an impropriety that was unbecoming in a king. "Who knows whether the proud woman did not intend to sneer at the rank of the Levites, as one that was contemptible in her eyes, since their humble service may have looked very trivial to her?" (Berleb. Bible.) Sa2 6:21-22 David replied, "Before Jehovah, who chose me before thy father and all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel, before Jehovah have I played (lit. joked, given utterance to my joy). And I will be still more despised, and become base in my eyes: and with the maidens of whom thou hast spoken, with them will I be honoured." The copula vav before שׂהקתּי serves to introduce the apodosis, and may be explained in this way, that the relative clause appended to "before Jehovah" acquired the power of a protasis on account of its length; so that, strictly speaking, there is an anakolouthon, as if the protasis read thus: "Before Jehovah, as He hath chosen me over Israel, I have humbled myself before Jehovah" (for "before him"). With the words "who chose me before thy father and all his house," David humbles the pride of the king's daughter. His playing and dancing referred to the Lord, who had chosen him, and had rejected Saul on account of his pride. He would therefore let himself be still further despised before the Lord, i.e., would bear still greater contempt from men than that which he had just received, and be humbled in his own eyes (vid., Psa 131:1): then would he also with the maidens attain to honour before the Lord. For whoso humbleth himself, him will God exalt (Mat 23:12). בּעיני is not to be altered into בּעיניך, as in the lxx. This alteration has arisen from a total misconception of the nature of true humility, which is of no worth in its own eyes. The rendering given by De Wette is at variance with both the grammar and the sense ("with the maidens, ... with them will I magnify myself"); and so also is that of Thenius ("with them will I be honoured, i.e., indemnify myself for thy foolish contempt!"). Sa2 6:23 Michael was humbled by God for her pride, and remained childless to the time of her death.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

When David returned home to bless his house, as he had previously blessed the people, Michal came to meet him with scornful words, saying, "How has the king of Israel glorified himself to-day, when he stripped himself before the eyes of the maids of his servants, as only one of the loose people strips himself!" The unusual combination נגלות כּהגּלות is explained by Ewald (240, e., p. 607) in this manner, that whilst, so far as the sense of the clause is concerned, the second verb ought to be in the infinitive absolute, they were both written with a very slight change of form in the infinitive construct; whereas others regard נגלות as an unusual form of the infinitive absolute (Ges. Lehrgeb. p. 430), or a copyist's error for נגלה (Thenius, Olsh. Gr. p. 600). The proud daughter of Saul was offended at the fact, that the king had let himself down on this occasion to the level of the people. She availed herself of the shortness of the priests' shoulder-dress, to make a contemptuous remark concerning David's dancing, as an impropriety that was unbecoming in a king. "Who knows whether the proud woman did not intend to sneer at the rank of the Levites, as one that was contemptible in her eyes, since their humble service may have looked very trivial to her?" (Berleb. Bible.)

Sa2 6:21-22

David replied, "Before Jehovah, who chose me before thy father and all his house, to appoint me prince over the people of Jehovah, over Israel, before Jehovah have I played (lit. joked, given utterance to my joy). And I will be still more despised, and become base in my eyes: and with the maidens of whom thou hast spoken, with them will I be honoured." The copula vav before שׂהקתּי serves to introduce the apodosis, and may be explained in this way, that the relative clause appended to "before Jehovah" acquired the power of a protasis on account of its length; so that, strictly speaking, there is an anakolouthon, as if the protasis read thus: "Before Jehovah, as He hath chosen me over Israel, I have humbled myself before Jehovah" (for "before him"). With the words "who chose me before thy father and all his house," David humbles the pride of the king's daughter. His playing and dancing referred to the Lord, who had chosen him, and had rejected Saul on account of his pride. He would therefore let himself be still further despised before the Lord, i.e., would bear still greater contempt from men than that which he had just received, and be humbled in his own eyes (vid., Psa 131:1): then would he also with the maidens attain to honour before the Lord. For whoso humbleth himself, him will God exalt (Mat 23:12). בּעיני is not to be altered into בּעיניך, as in the lxx. This alteration has arisen from a total misconception of the nature of true humility, which is of no worth in its own eyes. The rendering given by De Wette is at variance with both the grammar and the sense ("with the maidens, ... with them will I magnify myself"); and so also is that of Thenius ("with them will I be honoured, i.e., indemnify myself for thy foolish contempt!").

Sa2 6:23

Michael was humbled by God for her pride, and remained childless to the time of her death.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Bless his household - Ministers must not think, that their public performances will excuse them from family worship: but when they have blessed the public assembly, they are to return and bless their own household. And none is too great to do this. It is the work of angels to worship God; and therefore certainly can be no disparagement to the greatest of men. Who uncovered - By stripping himself of his royal robes, that he might put on a Levitical ephod.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
To bless his household - This was according to the custom of the patriarchs, who were priests in their own families. It is worthy of remark, that David is called patriarch by Stephen, Act 2:29, though living upwards of four hundred years after the termination of the patriarchal age. How glorious was the king of Israel - This is a strong irony. From what Michal says, it is probable that David used some violent gesticulations, by means of which some parts of his body became uncovered. But it is very probable that we cannot guess all that was implied in this reproach.

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²⁰ Then David [01732] returned [07725] to bless [01288] his household [01004]. And Michal [04324] the daughter [01323] of Saul [07586] came out [03318] to meet [07125] David [01732], and said [0559], How glorious [03513] was the king [04428] of Israel [03478] to day [03117], who uncovered [01540] himself to day [03117] in the eyes [05869] of the handmaids [0519] of his servants [05650], as one [0259] of the vain fellows [07386] shamelessly [01540] uncovereth [01540] himself!
²¹ And David [01732] said [0559] unto Michal [04324], It was before [06440] the LORD [03068], which chose [0977] me before thy father [01], and before all his house [01004], to appoint [06680] me ruler [05057] over the people [05971] of the LORD [03068], over Israel [03478]: therefore will I play [07832] before [06440] the LORD [03068].
²² And I will yet be more vile [07043] than thus [02063], and will be base [08217] in mine own sight [05869]: and of the maidservants [0519] which thou hast spoken [0559] of, of them shall I be had in honour [03513].
²³ Therefore Michal [04324] the daughter [01323] of Saul [07586] had no child [02056] [03206] unto the day [03117] of her death [04194].

¹⁸ And as soon as David [01732] had made an end [03615] of offering [05927] burnt offerings [05930] and peace offerings [08002], he blessed [01288] the people [05971] in the name [08034] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

²³ Therefore Michal [04324] the daughter [01323] of Saul [07586] had no child [02056] [03206] unto the day [03117] of her death [04194].

¹² And [1161] whosoever [3748] shall exalt [5312] himself [1438] shall be abased [5013]; and [2532] he [3748] that shall humble [5013] himself [1438] shall be exalted [5312].

¹ A Song [07892] of degrees [04609] of David [01732]. LORD [03068], my heart [03820] is not haughty [01361], nor mine eyes [05869] lofty [07311]: neither do I exercise [01980] myself in great matters [01419], or in things too high [06381] for me.

²¹ And David [01732] said [0559] unto Michal [04324], It was before [06440] the LORD [03068], which chose [0977] me before thy father [01], and before all his house [01004], to appoint [06680] me ruler [05057] over the people [05971] of the LORD [03068], over Israel [03478]: therefore will I play [07832] before [06440] the LORD [03068].
²² And I will yet be more vile [07043] than thus [02063], and will be base [08217] in mine own sight [05869]: and of the maidservants [0519] which thou hast spoken [0559] of, of them shall I be had in honour [03513].

²⁹ Men [435] and brethren [80], let [2036] me [1832] freely [3326] [3954] speak [2036] unto [4314] you [5209] of [4012] the patriarch [3966] David [1138], that [3754] he is [5053] both [2532] dead [5053] and [2532] buried [2290], and [2532] his [846] sepulchre [3418] is [2076] with [1722] us [2254] unto [891] this [5026] day [2250].