2 Samuel 6:13

“And it was [so], that when they that bare the ark of the Lord, etc.] The Levites; for now David had seen the former mistake, and rectified it, and ordered the Levites to “carry” it, as they did upon their shoulders, with the staves therein, (see <131502>1 Chronicles 15:2,12-15); when these had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings; upon an altar, which was at once erected for that purpose; the number and kind of sacrifices offered were seven bullocks and seven rams, (<131526>1 Chronicles 15:26); and these David offered, not by himself, but by the priests that were with him, and that as soon as they had gone six paces from the house of Obededom; whereby they perceived the Levites,…”

“when they that bare the ark . . . had gone six paces--Some think that four altars were hastily raised for the offering of sacrifices at the distance of every six paces (but see on Ch1 15:26).”

“The meaning is, not that they sacrificed oxen and fatlings every six steps, which would have been impossible, but that when - after the arrangement made by David for the Levites to carry the ark 1 Chronicles 15:2, 1 Chronicles 15:12, 1 Chronicles 15:15 they had borne it successfully and with visible tokens of God’s favor, out of the house of Obed-edom and six “steps” on the road to the city of David to the sound of the musical instruments - then they stopped and offered solemn sacrifices. Possibly “the step” may have had a technical sense, and denoted a certain distance, say a stadium. Six such distances would have been nearly a mile, and if the ground was difficult and steep, the successful…”

“6:13 David offered this sacrifice of praise to God immediately, just six steps into the journey.”

“when they: Num 4:15, Num 7:9; Jos 3:3; Ch1 15:2, Ch1 15:15, Ch1 15:25, Ch1 15:26 oxen: Kg1 8:5; Ch2 5:6 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 6:14”

“The bearers of the ark are not particularly mentioned in this account; but it is very evident that they were Levites, as the Chronicles affirm, from the fact that the ark was carried this time, and not driven, as before. "And it came to pass, when the bearers of the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatted calf" (i.e., had them sacrificed). These words are generally understood as meaning, that sacrifices of this kind were offered along the whole way, at the distance of six paces apart. This would certainly have been a possible thing, and there would be no necessity to assume that the procession halted every six paces, until the sacrificial ceremony was completed,…”