The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Anyone hear David was alleged to have danced naked, or in his underwear, before God? It's untrue!

This is the passage:

2 Samuel 6:14 KJV And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

An EPHOD is a priestly garment. Some thought it was his underwear! lol. It is a priest's garment, and David acted like a priest in ministering in dance before God.

EASTON BIBLE DICTIONARY

Ephod
Something girt, a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest (Exo_28:4), afterwards by the ordinary priest (1Sa_22:18), and characteristic of his office (1Sa_2:18, 1Sa_2:28; 1Sa_14:3). It was worn by Samuel, and also by David (2Sa_6:14). It was made of fine linen, and consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck, and covered both the back and front, above the tunic and outer garment (Exo_28:31). That of the high priest was embroidered with divers colours. The two pieces were joined together over the shoulders (hence in Latin called superhumerale) by clasps or buckles of gold or precious stones, and fastened round the waist by a “curious girdle of gold, blue, purple, and fine twined linen” (Exo_28:6-12).

Like Melchisedek, David was a Priest/King in this instance, a foreshadow of Jesus Christ.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" lie
 

John Gill commented:

and David was girded with a linen ephod; which others, besides priests, sometimes wore, as Samuel did, and which David might choose to appear in, rather than in his royal robes, as being more agreeable to the service of God, and lighter for him both to walk and dance in on this occasion.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Here is the passage in it's entirety as it relates to the thread...

2 Samuel 6:13-20
13And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.
14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.
15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
17And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
18And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts.
19And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.
20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

David danced until he was "uncovered", this was not hard to do seeing that a linen ephod was a very simple garment.

http://www.wwj.org.nz/teachings/images/1493p29.jpg

While most of Israel celebrated with David's exuberance and worshiped the Lord, giving him glory... Michal despised him for being so "undignified" and for being "uncovered" while dancing. Perhaps she was despising David's dismissal of the royal robes and his wearing of the humble ephod, perhaps he truly danced with such exuberance his nakedness showed between leaps and dancing. Commentators will comment from both positions... but we can't miss the point. David, the king, wasn't too "dignified" to worship the Lord in all his might with the common people of Israel.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

He danced till his clothes fell off?
or
He danced so vigorously that he exposed himself?
or
He lay aside his royal robe (uncovered himself) and put on the simple priestly ephod in its place?

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Hey Sam, I was adding to my post when you wrote this. lol

I don't think David was naked. I do know he chose to wear a humble ephod before the people, and if there was any "nakedness" it had to be glimpses between David's leaping exuberance.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I highly doubt any nakedness occurred at all. It's just that he uncovered himself of royalty and his proud wife was disgusted.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I would have that view as well. Mainly because the Bible says, "Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart," and when she said, "as one of the vain fellows.."

It appears that he humbled himself like every other man and she was too proud to bear it. She wanted him to be a lofty king. At least that's the way I have always viewed it.

"unclothed" has the meaning and idea of being "nude", but it also means "reveal", so with what Michal says, it just seems he revealed himself as a vain (worthless) fellow in her eyes.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I totally agree with this context. Also, I think if he had been naked, the Bible would have simply said so. It was pretty clear about Peter:

Joh 21:7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I wonder if some old pentecostals mistakenly heard a message on this and "worshipped" until they took their clothes off. No lie, my grandmother once told me when she was small her and a couple of friends peeked inside the window of a pentecostal church and the people were running around taking their clothes off.

I was shocked to hear such a thing, and wouldn't believe it had most anyone else told me such a thing. It was such a stumbling block for her, that she absolutely did not want anything to do with becoming pentecostal. She has since died, and I am concerned for her soul.

(background info: I was born again at age 18 after leaving home, none of my family attended church much, or served God. So thereafter I aggressively tried to convert them, which is when the above conversation took place.)

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Jason reminded me of a time in a pentecostal church that a sinner had started coming to church off and on. One night he made his way to the altar, and some of the brethren, of course, gathered around to pray with him. As they prayed and shouted with him, he began shouting, too. They were all standing around him and began jumping up and down, and he started jumping up and down with them with a huge smile on his face. Suddenly he reached down and started undoing his belt and pants, and they realized he was a homosexual (with some mental problems, too, I think) and was taking advantage of a situation where all the men were around him.

Needless to say the antics stopped quite quickly.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I see your conclusion as a strong possibility. But I think it's jumping the gun to rule out the traditional interpretation that David may have shown a degree of nakedness while dancing before the Lord, after all, even the thigh (ranging from knee to knee) was considered nakedness in biblical times. I'm reminded of a verse of Scripture directed to the priests (who wore ephods),

Exodus 20:25-26
25And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.
26Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.

The concern was that the priests (wearing ephods) might show their nakedness while walking up high stairs to the altar of God. Evidently the linen ephods were not the most conservative of attire and nakedness was a concern. With this in mind we consider that King David was wearing a linen ephod while dancing and leaping with all his might. It's entirely possible that he revealed himself in his exuberance. Of course, the interesting thing is that the people saw no issue because they weren't looking to criticize David, they were worshiping too. If Michal was worshiping, odds are David's nakedness (regardless of one's take) wouldn't have been at issue.

Also, consider the character of David as the narrative depicts him. David is a man who is often against the grain, unconventional, even at odds with God on occasion. He wasn't the dignified religioso we often picture him as being. For example, David married 7 women before marrying Bathsheba. A careful study of David's life will reveal that he was seeking something at that point in his life each time.

Michal - the feminine of, "who is like God" (Michael), root word meaning brook, stream, or waters, i.e. "waters of God". However, she was given to him by Saul to be a thorn in his side. She appears to be very legalistic and religious. Though David may have loved her, they obviously had communication issues because it is emphasized that she mocked David's worship. She truly didn't understand him and he never had the deep relationship he desired with her. Her prudish legalism and mocking of David's worship brought the hand of God on her and she bore no children, religion is barren.

Ahinoam - "my brother is delight", root "beautiful" or "pleasant", often with reference to a woman's breasts and prowess in providing conjugal love. This girl was lovely and a lover's lover. When David fled for his life from the house of Saul he abandoned Michal and it was win Ahinoam that it appears he found solace while he searched for what he was looking for in love. His first son with her David named Amnon "faithful" demonstrating David's opinion regarding this union and what it was producing. David wanted a faithfulness to be the product of this relationship. However, the implication of her sexual prowess and passion indicates that perhaps she wasn't the most spiritual of women. This left a void in this relationship which leads into the drama of Amnon... but that's a different story.

Abigail - "my father is joy", David was going to kill her husband (Nabal) who apparently wronged David by not paying for services rendered. However she greets David, paying honor to his authority (implying that she believed the prophecies concerning David's kingship) and begged him not to kill her husband on the grounds that it could jeopardize his future calling. After her husband died David married her. His son with her is named, "Chileab" meaning "like his father", but the root of the word is "to withhold", "forbid", or "restrain". Obviously elements of his relationship with Abigail were strained. The relationship produced "restraint" or "withholding". Perhaps due to her religious nature she was not intimate enough for David.

Maaca - "pressure (literally she has pressed)", the roots are "to squeeze" or "fondle", to "press", "kneed", or "crush". Apparently this woman was more "touchy feely" and provided the intimacy lacking with Abigail (who truly was perhaps one of David's greatest wives and female friends). However, with Abigail's withholding, in Maaca David found a woman who he could hold and who would hold him.

Haggith - "festive" with roots in "chagag" meaning "to reel", "dance", or "sway". She was a dancer, and a very entertaining dancer at that. She may have been a belly dancer (common in David's culture). While Maaca was the romantic, Haggith was the life of the party. The girl with whom David could dance the night away until both fell into the arms of passion. David no doubt adored her, he named their child "my lord is Jehovah", for he saw their relationship as a gift from God. However, her love of the party may have made her a bit high maintenance and eventually such a relationship becomes tiresome.

Abital - "my father is (the) dew", or "night mist", the connotations are highly erotic in the Hebrew. Where Haggith was high maintenance and took a lot to provoke to intimacy, Abital was ready for David at a moment's notice. However, he named their son, "Shephatiah", ("Jehovah has judged"). Issues here... another long story.

Eglah - "a heifer", indicating that she may have been a large woman. The terminology leads one to believe that she was motherly. Up until this point David's relationships had experienced: religion, pious beauty, spiritual restraint, romantic touch and intimacy, festive passion, spontaneous intimacy. But none of it made him whole. Now he possesses a woman who will mother him and care for him. He's becoming needy. He names his son with her Ithream or "profit of the people". The roots indicate a meaning more in line with "residue of the people" or "excess of the people". Apparently in mothering David she directed his affairs and made him rather busy with Government. Now board, tired, weary, and feeling in need he looks out over his balcony and sees a woman bathing on her rooftop. A woman named... Bathsheba.

Bathsheba - "daughter of the oath" or "woman of promise". David's adultery through the seduction of Bathsheba, her subsequent pregnancy, the murder of her husband, and God's exposing David's sin is legendary. However, this "other woman" rises to prominence among all the wives of David and even is recorded as aiding in the affairs of the King to the point of seeking the Kingdom's survival her in son Solomon. Perhaps if David would have waited David would have met her later without having to "look for love in all the wrong places". It appears that David's relational happiness was achieved with Bathsheba, no doubt much to the chagrin of his other wives and concubines who are relegated to obscurity after Bathsheba enters the picture.

My point... David was all over the map seeking happiness. David was a sinner who fell into adultery and murder. David violated the Law by eating the shew bread which was only lawful for the priests to eat. The Psalms are up and down indicating to a critical reader that David may have struggled with deep emotional pain and issues. Today they might think of him as easily depressed one moment and on top of the mountains the next. Yet in his lowest of lows David demonstrates the depth of heartfelt cries for help and forgiveness. David was a king, a priest, a sinner, a rebel, a man's man, a radical who broke nearly all the rules... and won. A perfect picture of the Grace of God.

I think in light of Scripture's depiction of David, it's quite possible that David got so excited he exposed himself while dancing in the thin and revealing ephod. Let's not try to cast him in some puritanical mold wherein he acts like a dignified priest in ballet slippers. David is a man and represents manhood in all it's unchained passion and fury. While Michal and others are somehow ashamed of his dancing and being uncovered, I'm not. Because in him I see a heart that is all too human... and yet consumed with a passion for life and God that can't be tamed.

Long live King David!

(That's right King David... this Bud's for you. ;))

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Also note, Michal stated that David, "uncovereth" himself...

That word is...

01540 // hlg // galah // gaw-law' //

a primitive root; TWOT - 350; v

AV - uncover 34, discover 29, captive 28, carry away 22, reveal 16,
open 12, captivity 11, shew 9, remove 6, appear 3, misc 18; 188


1) to uncover, remove
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to uncover
1a2) to remove, depart
1a3) to go into exile
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) (reflexive)
1b1a) to uncover oneself
1b1b) to discover or show oneself
1b1c) to reveal himself (of God)
1b2) (passive)
1b2a) to be uncovered
1b2b) to be disclosed, be discovered
1b2c) to be revealed
1b3) to be removed
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to uncover (nakedness)
1c1a) nakedness
1c1b) general
1c2) to disclose, discover, lay bare
1c3) to make known, show, reveal
1d) (Pual) to be uncovered
1e) (Hiphil) to carry away into exile, take into exile
1f) (Hophal) to be taken into exile
1g) (Hithpael)
1g1) to be uncovered
1g2) to reveal oneself

The connotation is to be revealed in the sense of uncovered or layed bare, revealed, discovered.

Nowhere is Michal rebuked for lying about David... in fact it is implied that what she said was true, however her mocking attitude brought God's judgment upon her and she was barren from that day forward.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

A while back I told someone that David reminded me of President Bill Clinton in the way he liked the ladies. The person that I told that to disagreed and was a little offended about the way I looked at David, the man after God's own heart. I didn't see it as a problem. I believe David really did love the Lord and had an intimate relationship with Him but he just couldn't keep his hands off the ladies. He's certainly not the first preacher or man of God with that problem.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Yep.

And anyway, so what if he did dance naked in front of the people? Would that have been wrong? A sin? Where's the no-nakedness commandment, anyway?

(Not advocating public nudity. I'm just sayin'. As usual. ;))

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

My personal opinion is that when he was accused by his wife of "uncovering" himself it was her way of saying that he had taken off his royal robes and dressed and acted like any "common person."

But, maybe in his exuberance David did "expose" himself. I'm sure there were several ladies in the crowd that enjoyed the view and, knowing David's reputation, some didn't see anything they hadn't seen before.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Sheesh, and here I went and bought a velcro tear-away suit for this Sunday:(

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Aquila, I think you read alot into the scripture, things that aren't there. With the meaning of people's name, doesn't mean they are actually like the meaning of their name. But it was the most interesting read so far.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

DM, aren't you embarrassed to have that avatar yet?

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I would agree...

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Here's a couple more naked guys :)

Mark 14:51

51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: KJV

John 21:7

7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. KJV

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Notice that Peter was with men alone, whereas David was amongst women.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

More opinions:

CLARKE:

He was naked - He was only in his vest. Γυμνος, naked, is often used to signify the absence of this upper garment only. In 1Sa 19:24, when Saul had put off his ἱματια, upper garments, he is said to have been γυμνος, naked; and David, when girded only with a linen ephod, is said to have been uncovered, in 2Sa 6:14, 2Sa 6:20. To which may be added what we read in the Sept. Job 22:6, Thou hast taken away the covering of the naked; αμφιασιν γυμνων, the plaid or blanket in which they wrapped themselves, and besides which they had none other. In this sense it is that Virgil says, Geor. i. 299: Nudus ara, sere nudus, i.e. strip off your upper garments, and work till you sweat. See more examples in Bp. Pearce.


BARNES:

He was naked - He was undressed, with nothing on but the undergarment or tunic. The word does not require us to suppose a greater degree of nakedness than this. See the Mar 14:51 note; also 1Sa 19:24 note.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

:thumbsup

:thumbsup

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I'm with you MM wonder if they will let us return them?

:ursofunny

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

I think it would have been immodest, yes. It certainly wouldn't have been in keeping with Jewish culture.

But, more to the point, I think the Bible clarifies it's accounts pretty well (such as with Peter), and if David had been entirely naked, it would have said so. JMO!!!!

Look at the shame that was inferred upon Ham when he saw his naked, drunken father in the tent...and yet dancing naked on the streets with women(and probably children) watching would have been acceptable to the Lord? I doubt it. (That story also clarifies that Noah was naked.)

Anyway, the story about David states that he was girded with a linen ephod. It is possible that he wore it around his waist, since "girded" means "as a belt; armor", and "ephod" means a "girdle; specifically the...high priest's shoulder piece."

Also, that might fit in the context of what Michal said, when she accused him of uncovering himself as one of the "vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself." The picture that comes to my mind is a young man taking his shirt off.

Since the scripture does say that he was wearing something, then I'm going to agree with it, and say he was not entirely naked. BUT, it's possible he was flashing some skin. I just doubt he was flashing his white and shiny hiney. :blush

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

That makes sense. It's odd, though, that so many other things are commanded clearly, but this one seems to be just hinted at indirectly, and it almost always has to do with people's attitude toward it, and not God's (Ham and Noah being a possible exception). Adam and Eve felt shame for their nakedness after the fall, but God didn't seem to be bothered by it as if it was a sin. And it must not have been a sin before the fall.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Adam and Eve were certainly innocent before the fall. But once sin entered their hearts, innocency was gone and mad could not handle certain situations without further sinning.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

But they were husband and wife, so why was nudity a problem? It wouldn't have been sinful, even if they had looked at each other and wanted to act upon the "situation." :coffee2

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Which is why I think modesty is a relative concept. :D

How much clothing is worn at any given time is directly related to the present company and culture.

I am modest as a courtesy to other people, and only in that sense is it unto the Lord. I don't think God cares one iota whether we are clothed or not, except as it affects others around us .

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

But why did Adam and Eve need clothes if they were the only people in the world?

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

They were ashamed, probably before God. Notice they only hid when God came, and that was with fig leaves on. They remained together before God came, unashamed with one another, but Adam still felt naked when God came. I think it was actually more of an inward nakedness that he tried to remedy outwardly, like so many do today. He did not know how to react to his inward state.

Notice Adam said he was stil naked after sewing fig leaves upon himself.

Genesis 3:7-10 KJV And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. (9) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? (10) And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Why would he say he was still naked since he covered himself with fig leaves? And why not run when he saw Eve, if he was ashamed of nakedness in front of her? But they were together after having sewed fig leaves together for aprons, and never hid and still felt naked until God came. This means it was not their physical nakedness that was the issue. THEY THOUGHT that was it, but felt the same thing after being clothed by themselves when God came. This proves, it seems, it was shame of their inward nakedness and sin of their hearts.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

have to say i agree with mfblume interp, i have never thought it made sense for this to be so immodest, dt

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

didn't God cover them with animal skins?
was the animal blood that was slain so they could be covered symbolic?

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

1Ch 15:27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as also were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the music of the singers. And David wore a linen ephod.

Probably the unclothed part is these priestly garments were light, like dresses. David was dacing and it was probalby flapping upwards.

Though the word used there could simply mean to reveal

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

How 'bout the prophet Isaiah, whom the LORD commanded that he walk naked and barefoot for three years?

Isaiah 20:2-4

At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia;

So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Thanks for this very interesting thread mfblume!

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Yes, they were indeed physically naked, but they were naked beforehand and did not know it. Thought nothing of it. The stripping away of the inward spiritual man caused them to try to remedy it by outward clothing.

It was actual animal blood, but very symbolic of the cross.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

:thumbsup

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Where does the idea come from that it was revealing, though? I can only see Michal's words as a basis for that since she said he was uncovered.

Re: The "DAVID DANCED WHILE NAKED" error
 

Brother Blume always provokes us to thought.