Tag: dancing

Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

Commentary by Hovak Najarian
 

James Tissot’s David Dancing Before the Ark illustrates a joyous occasion as the Ark of the Covenant is being transported to Jerusalem.  When imagining how this procession might be depicted, perhaps Tissot’s thoughts turned to Psalm 150;  “Praise him with timbrel and dance.”  “Praise him upon the loud cymbals … and high sounding cymbals.”

When the ark was being moved from Baale-juda, it was placed initially on an oxen-drawn cart but Tissot has given us a scene from the second segment of the journey.   At this time the ark is being supported by poles on the shoulders of four men from the tribe of Levi [Levites were the only ones allowed to carry the ark.]  Though the men carrying the ark are surrounded by festivity, they themselves are serious in their solemn responsibility.  [When it was being moved, the ark was always covered in a blue cloth; it is unclear why Tissot chose to use pink.] 

In this painting, Tissot has placed David with his back to us at center stage.  He is wearing an ephod (a Jewish priestly vestment) and dancing energetically. To the left of David is a woman in an elaborate dress with “high sounding” cymbals, and on the right, two women in festive dresses are dancing as they play timbrels (a tambourine-like instrument).  Crowds surround the ark as they travel with David to Jerusalem.  Many in the background are waving palm fronds.

The back story of this painting began at the time David was crowned King of Israel. The Philistines had captured the ark earlier but then returned it. After its return, it was kept in the house of Abinadab for twenty years. It was David’s belief the ark should be in Jerusalem, the city he chose to be the new capital of Israel, and he set out with a large group of supporters to the house of Abinadab to transport it. In preparation for the journey, a cart – to be drawn by oxen – was built and the ark was placed on it. There was dancing and praises as the procession to Jerusalem was underway.

Abinadab’s two sons, Uzzah and Ahio attended the cart as the journey proceeded but the festivity ended abruptly when an ox slipped and it seemed the ark was going to fall.  Uzzah reached out instinctively to steady the ark but touching it was against the wishes of God and he was struck dead immediately. This angered and saddened David.  Uzzah was trying simply to protect the ark and God’s punishment seemed unfair.  The journey was halted for three months until David came to terms with Uzzah’s death.  For the remainder of the journey, the ark was carried on poles.  Tissot’s painting illustrates the second segment of this journey.  

When Tissot became older, he took a deeper interest in his faith and the people of the Bible became his primary subject matter.  He first focused on the life of Christ and then after completing a large series, he began painting subjects from the Old Testament.  In these biblical paintings, Tissot strived for authenticity and visited Egypt, Arab countries, and the Holy Land on three occasions.  While there he sketched and took notes.  He believed the manner of dress in rural areas of these lands would have remained similar to the way they were in biblical times.

Hovak Najarian © 2024

Art note

The medium, gouache, was used by Tissot for a series of paintings depicting events in the life of Christ.   He followed this with a series of events in the Hebrew Bible.  Many of these works may be seen at the Jewish Museum (events from the Hebrew Bible) and the Brooklyn Museum (events from the life of Christ).  Both museums are in New York City.   The medium “gouache” — pronounced g’wash (and does not rhyme with ouch)—is an opaque watercolor.  A watercolor, however, is composed of transparencies whereas gouache has a white pigment added, thus making all colors opaque.  Gouaches produce a soft effect and do have the intensity of colors that we see usually in oil paints and acrylics.

Images

David Dancing Before the Ark on The Jewish Museum website

Ark Brought to Jerusalem on The Bible Hub website