When bringing the ark to the city David makes a sacrifice after the ark had only traveled about six steps
2 Samuel 6:13 NIV
13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.2 Samuel 6:13 NIV
What was the significance of the six steps?
You have to remember that the last time David tried to move the ark it started tipping over and someone grabbed it and was struck dead (2 Sam 6.6). Then "David feared Yahweh on that day and said, “How can the ark of Yahweh come to me?”" (6.9) and he "was not willing to bring the ark of Yahweh to himself, to the city of David, so David caused it to turn to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite." (6.10).
So David needed to find a way to bring it Jerusalem safely. He finally did that with extreme reverence by sacrificing every sixth step. I view it as a charming tribute to the sabbath where the ark took six steps and then rested. It took six more steps and rested, etc. Interrupting the procession with sacrifices would also be consistent with traditional practice:
From the NICOT commentary:
Ancient Near Eastern literature refers to repeated sacrifices in relation to processions accompanying the transfer and installation of gods. As for the number of sacrificed animals, Solomon sacrificed a multitude of oxen and sheep during the dedication of the temple. David probably did not slaughter the animals himself, but this emphasizes that he was the central character in bringing the ark to Jerusalem. The purpose of sacrificing all along the way to Jerusalem is to appease the Lord’s anger and please his God. The expression a bull and a fatling could be a hendiadys meaning “a fatted bull.”
Tsumura, D. T. (2019). The Second Book of Samuel. (E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, & R. L. Hubbard Jr., Eds.) (pp. 117–118). Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Man was created on day 6 but fell into rebellion which needed YHVH to redeem, He first used animals to cover or atone for Adam’s sin.
King David was led to offer an animal sacrifice every 6 steps (6 day, man incomplete without YHVH)
YHVH is very gracious (loving) HE took Adam & Eve straight into The 7th Day Rest!
David was able to bring the Ark of the Covenant back. Salvation is very costly. All the continual animal sacrifices are a mere shadow of the Son of YHVH dying on the cross ✝️ for Adam’s sin. YHVH is very Merciful, Halleluyah.
