(1) В¶ Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. (2) And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
It is remarkable that we have met with nothing in relation to the Ark, from the time of its return out of the Philistines' territories, (as recorded 1 Samuel 6:1 to the end) excepting, that Saul is once said to have called for it, until this which is now mentioned. See 1 Samuel 14:10. Twenty years it was lodged in Kirjath-jearim. 1 Samuel 7:1-2. But do observe, with what honourable terms it is spoken of; the Ark of God; whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts, that dwelleth between the cherubims. Was not this most clearly typical of Christ? Is not Jesus both the Mercy-seat, the Propitiatory, the Propitiation, and the sole manifestation of the divine presence? Do not all petitions go up on him? And are not all communications made from him? How sweetly doth one pray to this effect; Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou and the ark of thy strength. Psalms 130:8. I refer the reader, on this most interesting subject, to what hath been already advanced upon it in the commentary on these passages; Exodus 40:1; Deuteronomy 10:1; Joshua 3:1. The design of David in fetching the ark, is more particularly mentioned, 1 Chronicles 13:1 where a whole chapter is filled in relating it, how David conferred with the leading men of his nation on the subject; to which I refer the Reader.