Queerying 7th after Pentecost B

River Needham, MA ThM queeries the Tanakh reading.

Tanakh: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
David again assembled all the picked men of Israel, thirty thousand strong. Then David and all the troops that were with him set out from Baalim of Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God to which the Name was attached, the name Becoming One of Hosts enthroned on the Cherubim.

They loaded the Ark of God onto a new cart and conveyed it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Abinadab’s sons, Uzza and Ahio, guided the new cart. They conveyed it from Abinadab’s house on the hill, walking alongside the Ark of God and Ahio walking in front of the Ark. Meanwhile, David and all the House of Israel danced before the Becoming One to all kinds of cypress wood instruments, with lyres, harps, timbrels, sistrums, and cymbals.

[...]

Then David went and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David, amid rejoicing. When the bearers of the Ark of the Becoming One had moved forward six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling.

David whirled with all his might before the Becoming One; David was girded with a linen jockstrap. Thus David and all the House of Israel brought up the Ark of the Becoming One with shouts and with blasts of the horn.

As the Ark of the Becoming One entered the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Becoming One; and she despised him for it.

They brought in the Ark of the Becoming One and set it up in its place inside the tent which David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the Becoming One. When David finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Becoming One of Hosts.Then, he distributed among all the people—the entire multitude of Israel, man and woman and humans alike—to each a loaf of bread, a cake made in a pan, and a raisin cake. Then all the people left for their homes.

David went home to greet his household.

Queeries for the text:
What is missing from this text?
What men are picked? How are they picked?
What does the Ark of God look like?
What does it mean to pitch a tent? Where else might you pitch a tent?
Where do you find home? To which household(s) do you belong?

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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29
¹⁴King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.”

¹⁵But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

¹⁶But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

¹⁷For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. ¹⁸For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, ²⁰for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.

²¹But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. ²²When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” ²³And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”

²⁴She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.”

²⁵Immediately the girl rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.

²⁹When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Queeries for the text:
What did King Herod hear of?
Who understands time and aging?
Who makes judgments about others?
Who can and who can't get married?
Who is perplexing?
How many parents would give anything for their kid?
Who asks for something on a platter?
How do caregivers traumatize children?

What are your queeries?