From this point our narrative coincides with that of 2 Samuel 6:2-11. The original text was plainly the same, whether the chronicler drew directly from the Book of Samuel, or from another source. Such differences as appear consist of abridgments, paraphrases, and corrections.
All Israel. — Samuel, “All the people that were with him.”
To Baalah. — Joshua 15:60, “Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim.” “Baaľs town” was doubtless the original name. “Town of woods” describes the position of the place. Our text appears more correct than that of Samuel, which has, “And David rose and went, and all the people that were with him, from BaalêJudah.” The Targum, LXX., and Syriac, translate that which the Authorised Version gives as a proper name, “The people that were with him of the cities lords men of Judah.” If this be right, perhaps “Baalah” has fallen out of the text of Samuel owing to its resemblance to the word baalê. lords. Kirjath־jearim is the modern ‘Erma, four miles east of Ain Shems (Bethshemesh). — Palestine Exploration Fund Quarterly Statement, October, 1881.
The Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims. — Rather, Jehovah, who sitteth upon the cherubim (comp. Psalms 16:11; Psalms 80:2; Isaiah 37:16).
Whose name is called on it. — The Hebrew is, “who (or which) is called Name.” The Israelites in later days avoided all mention of the Divine name of Jehovah, and substituted hashshçm “the Name” (comp. Leviticus 24:16, and the Third Commandment). A comparison with 2 Samuel 6:2, however, suggests that a word meaning “upon it” (‘âlâw), has fallen out. In that case the literal rendering will be, upon which (i.e., the Ark) the Name (of Jehovah) is called= which is called by the name (of Jehovah). The Ark was often called “the Ark of Jehovah” (1 Chronicles 15:3). The Hebrew and Targum of Samuel favour this. Some MSS. of Chron. read “there” (shâm) instead of “name” (shçm). This, gives the meaning, who is invoked there (at the Ark). Comp. the LXX. οὗ ἐπεκλήθη ὄνομα αὐτοῦ.