1 Chronicles 6:14

Seraiah. The high priest at the time when Jerusalem fell (2 Kings 25:18-21; Jer. 52:24).

Danced before the Lord. David’s dancing was an act of solemn and holy joy. To an Oriental of that day such an activity was a natural mode of expression, however strange it may seem to us today. By this means David expressed his grateful praise and thus gave honor and glory to God’s holy name. There was nothing in the dancing of David that is comparable to or that will justify the modern dance. The popular dance draws no one nearer to God, nor does it inspire to purer thoughts or holier living. It degrades and corrupts. It unfits a man for prayer or study of the Word of God and turns him away from righteousness into ways of revelry. Morals are corrupted, time is worse than wasted, and often health is sacrificed (see PP 707).

A linen ephod. Compare 1 Chron. 15:27. David put aside his kingly robe for this occasion and wore a simple linen ephod of the type usually worn by the priests and others (see on 1 Sam. 2:18; cf. 1 Sam. 22:18; 2 Chron. 5:12). In doing this he did not assume priestly prerogatives; he was simply showing his people that he was willing to humble himself and become one with them in the service of God.