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2 Samuel 6:5

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 2 Samuel 6:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of [instruments made of] fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of [instruments made of] fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
2 Samuel 6:5 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Samuel 6

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him, from Baale-judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, which is called by the Name, even the name of Jehovah of hosts that sitteth [above] the cherubim.
3And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
4And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was in the hill, with the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.
5And David and all the house of Israel played before Jehovah with all manner of [instruments made of] fir-wood, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
6And when they came to the threshing-floor of Nacon, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen stumbled.
7And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.
8And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzzah; and he called that place Perez-uzzah, unto this day.
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord, etc.] That is, before the ark, which was a symbol of the presence of the Lord: on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood: which is a general expression, the particulars follow; though instruments of different sorts are mentioned, and even some of metal, as cymbals, which were vessels of brass, they struck one against another, and gave a very acute sound, being hollow f108; even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals; harps, psalteries, and timbrels, are frequently met with; cornets, according to Kimchi, are such sort of instruments, that in playing upon them it required an agitation of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Played - i. e. danced to music vocal and instrumental (see Judges 16:25 note). Cornets - Rather, from the etymology of the Hebrew word (to shake), and their being coupled with the cymbals, and being rendered sistra in the Vulgate, some kind of instrument with bells or rings, which gave a sound by being shaken. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Played before the Lord - Public joy should always be as before the Lord, with an eye to him, and terminating in him. Otherwise it is no better than public madness, and the source of all manner of wickedness. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 6:7”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“6:5 The musical instruments were played by Levites (1 Chr 16:4-6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“David: Sa1 10:5, Sa1 16:16; Kg2 3:15; Ch1 13:8, Ch1 15:10-24; Psa 47:5, Psa 68:25-27; Psa 150:3-5; Dan 3:5, Dan 3:7, Dan 3:10, Dan 3:15; Amo 5:23, Amo 6:5 on all manner: This place should doubtless be corrected from the parallel place, Ch1 13:8; where, instead of bechol âtzey beroshim, which is literally, "with all trees or wood of fir," we read bechol ôz oovesheerim, "with all their might, and with songs." This makes a good sense, while the former makes none: the LXX have the same reading here, εν ισχυι, και εν ωδαις. 2 Kings (2 Samuel) 6:6”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification