2-samuel 6:13
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatted calves.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatted calves.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And it was so, that, when they that bare the ark of Jehovah had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And when those who were lifting the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, he made an offering of an ox and a fat young beast.
Webster's Revision
And it was so, that when they that bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
World English Bible
It was so, that, when those who bore the ark of Yahweh had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
English Revised Version (ERV)
And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.
Definitions for 2-samuel 6:13
Barnes's 2-samuel 6:13 Bible Commentary
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 progress of "those that bare the ark," so far, would have been a fit cause for a thanksgiving sacrifice.