伊施波設死後不久，以色列各支派的代表就來與大衛立約。先前押尼珥已經極力的遊說他們，可能也是影響他們支持大衛的原因。各支派的長老提出三個理由說明他們為何接受大衛作他們的主。很明顯的，即使伊施波設沒被暗殺，他們也會下到希伯崙去立大衛為王。首先，他們的理由是，以色列眾支派與大衛原為骨肉，所以他們應該統一起來。其次，即使在掃羅作王時期，拯救以色列人的也一直都是大衛。第三，也是最重要的原因，他們曉得上帝已經揀選大衛作王，說：「你必牧養我的民以色列，作以色列的君」（5：2）。上帝很明顯的是與大衛同在，因為大衛在猶大作王的七年半中，上帝使他凡事順利。

        大衛三度受膏。第一次是由撒母耳私下膏他（撒上：16：13）；第二次只有猶大支派（2：4）；現在，所有以色列人都一致承認大衛是統一的以色列國國王（5：3）。尋找一個新首都來鞏固大衛的統治也成了當務之急。首都的遷徙是以色列歷史上一個重要的關鍵。由於希伯崙遠處於以色列南部，大衛就選擇了中央地帶，位居猶大和便雅憫支派邊界上的迦南人城邑，耶路撒冷的堡壘為都。早在約書亞死後不久，猶大支派就已攻取了耶路撒冷，但其堡壘則遲至大衛遷都時才被征服。耶路撒冷的堡壘是座小城（在城牆之內大概只有九英畝），但因其三面有深谷屏障，幾乎是一座不能攻破的城，其中的居民也很有信心，誇口說即使他們的瘸子、瞎子也能保護該城（5：6）。不過，大衛仍成功的攻佔了固若金湯的耶城堡壘，因為「耶和華萬軍之上帝與他同在」（5：10）。當上帝與祂的百姓同在，沒有一座堡壘能抵擋祂的能力。

        上帝使大衛在推羅（位於以色列之北）王眼中蒙恩，推羅人提供工匠、材料協助大衛建造宮殿，後來又協助以色列人建造聖殿。大衛視此為上帝祝福他為王的記號。上帝重看大衛，因為大衛尊重、順服上帝；上帝也兩次使大衛大勝非利士人。上帝為了祂的榮耀和救贖以色列百姓的緣故堅立大衛的國。大衛知道那是上帝救贖計畫的一部分（看鑰節，5：12）。如同大衛的經歷，當我們完全順服上帝，按照祂的旨意行，參與祂救恩的計畫，我們的生命絕不會單調乏味。

        大衛出於對上帝的熱心，就想要將被冷落在基列耶琳的約櫃運回都城。他作了一個特別的帳幕安放約櫃，又出於好意，製作一輛新車負責搬運約櫃。但這違反了利未人的規矩：利未人必須用他們的肩膀扛抬約櫃（民7：9）。烏撒可能是個利未人。約櫃在他家停放了七十年之久（6：3；撒上7：1），他應該曉得關於約櫃的規矩。當烏撒伸手想扶穩約櫃時，上帝的怒氣就向他發作，烏撒當場斃命。對一個出於好意的舉動施此懲罰，看來似乎過分嚴厲，但整個情況顯示，當時以色列民對上帝的聖潔和律法的規定實在缺乏尊敬。

        律法明載，只有祭司蒙准碰觸約櫃，哥轄族的利未人只能用肩扛抬，不得碰觸，「免得死亡」（民4：15）。聖物，特別是象徵上帝同在的約櫃，必須被待以最高度的敬畏。烏撒之死一定使以色列人大受震驚而明瞭此點。上帝的手段也很有效，因為我們看到大衛第二次欲將約櫃運回耶路撒冷時，他就完全遵照律法所指示的方式（6：13）。

        當一切都按照律法的要求和上帝的旨意辦妥，百姓中就有大喜樂和慶祝。大衛謙卑的脫下自己的王服，只穿一件簡單的細麻布以弗得，與百姓一同在約櫃前跳舞、敬拜上帝。他「不合國王體統」的舉止使他的妻子米甲看輕他（6：16）。米甲嘲諷大衛無恥、輕賤。但大衛回答說，為了上帝的榮耀，他願意作任何事──不論看起來有多麼卑微、輕賤。

        主啊，像大衛一樣，我們歡喜快樂，因我們能迎接象徵您施恩座、基督十架的新約。幫助我們為您發熱心，也不批評別人對主的熱情。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        It would have been shortly after the death of Ishbosheth that representatives from all the tribes of Israel came to make a covenant with David. Abner had strongly encouraged them and probably influenced them to support David. He likely prearranged this meeting before his death (3:17-19). The elders gave three reasons for their acceptance of David to be king over them. It was clear that even if Ishbosheth had not been assassinated, they would have gone down to Hebron to make him their king. Firstly, they were related by blood, and therefore they should be united. Secondly, David had always been their deliverer, even during the reign of Saul. Thirdly, and most importantly, they were aware that the Lord had chosen David to be king, saying: "You shall shepherd My people Israel, and be ruler over Israel" (5:2). It was evident that God was with David, since He had given David much success in his first seven and a half years as king over Judah.

        For the third time, David was anointed; the first time was done privately by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13); the second by only the tribe of Judah (2:4); and now by all Israel in unanimous recognition of David's kingship over a unified kingdom (5:3). It was only fitting that a new capital be chosen to help solidify his rule. This step marked an important point in the history of Israel. Hebron was too far in the south, so David chose the Jebusite/ Canaanite stronghold of Jerusalem; a more centralized capital on the borders between Judah and Benjamin (Joshua 18:28). Shortly after Joshua's death, the tribe of Judah had defeated Jerusalem, but the fortified stronghold itself was never conquered until this time (Judges 1:8, 21). It was a small city (probably about 9 acres within the wall), but because of the deep valleys on three sides, it was almost impregnable, so that the inhabitants were confident, boasting that even their disabled men could defend it (5:6). However, David was victorious because "the Lord God of hosts was with him" (5:10). When God is with His people, no enemy stronghold can stand.

        God gave David favour with the Phoenician king of Tyre (north of Israel), and the people of that nation helped in the building, craftsmanship, and materials of the palace and, later, the temple. David saw this as a sign of God's blessing upon his rulership. He was honoured by the Lord, because he honoured God and obeyed Him; therefore, God twice gave him victory over the Philistines (e.g. 5:20, 25). He was establishing David's kingdom for the sake of His glory and the salvation of His people Israel. David perceived that was a part of this redemptive plan of God (key verse, 5:12). As David experienced, life is never dull when you are yielding yourself to God, acting according to His will, and taking part in bringing people into the salvation of the Lord.

        In David's zeal for the Lord, he desired to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to a place of prominence, since for the last two generations it has been neglected in Kirjath Jearim. He made a special tent in which to house it and, with all good intentions, he also made a new cart upon which to transport the Ark. But this was a violation of the Levitical regulation requiring it to be borne on the shoulders of the Levites (Numbers 7:9). Uzzah was probably a Levite. The Ark had rested in his home for over seventy years (6:3; 1 Samuel 7:1), therefore he should have known the regulations concerning it. When he touched it to steady it, God's wrath came against him and he died. His penalty seems severe for an act which was well-meaning, yet the whole situation showed that at that time in Israel there was a lack of respect for the holiness of God and the regulations of the law.

        The law stated that only the priests were allowed to touch the Ark, and the Levites of the family of Kohath were to carry it by poles but not touch it "lest they die" (Numbers 4:15). The holy things, especially the Ark which symbolized God's presence, were to be treated with utmost reverence. Uzzah's death would shock all the people into this realization, and it certainly was effective, since we see that the next time David attempted to bring the Ark up to Jerusalem, he did it in the prescribed fashion (6:13).

        When things were done in accordance with the law and will of God, there was great joy and much celebration. David humbly divested himself of his royal attire and, wearing only a simple linen ephod, joined the common people in dancing and worshipping God before the Ark, His "unkingly" behaviour caused his wife Michal to despise him (6:16), and she sarcastically charged him with being base or lowly. To this David replied that he would do anything, no matter how humbling or seemingly undignified, for the glory of God.

        We rejoice with great joy that, like David, we can worhsip You in celebration of Your ark of the New Covenant, the symbol of Your mercy seat, the Cross of Christ. Help us to be fervent and not critical of the enthusiasm of others, as David's wife was, when he worshipped You.