13 6 The Ark is brought again from Kirjath Jearim to Jerusalem. 10 Uzza dieth because he toucheth it.

And David counseled with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and with all the governors.

And David said to all the Congregation of Israel, If it seem good to you, and that it proceedeth of the Lord our God, we will send to and fro unto our brethren, that are left in all the land of Israel (for with them are the Priests and the Levites in the cities and their suburbs) that they may assemble themselves unto us.

And we will bring again the [a]Ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul.

And all the Congregation answered, Let us do so: for the thing seemed good in the eyes of all the people.

(A)So David gathered all Israel together from [b]Shihor in Egypt, even unto the entering of Hamath, to bring the Ark of God from [c]Kirjath Jearim.

And David went up and all Israel to [d]Baalah in Kirjath Jearim, that was in Judah, to bring up from thence the Ark of God the Lord that dwelleth between the Cherubims, where his Name is called on.

And they carried the Ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio [e]guided the cart.

And David and all Israel played before [f]God with all their might, both with songs and with harps, and with viols, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

¶ And when they came unto the threshingfloor of [g]Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the Ark, for the oxen did shake it.

10 But the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he laid his hand upon the Ark: so he died there [h]before God.

11 And David was angry, because the Lord had made a breach in Uzza, and he called the name of that place, Perez Uzza unto this day.

12 And David feared God that day, saying, How shall I bring in to me the Ark of God?

13 Therefore David brought not the Ark to him into the city of David, but caused it to turn into the house of [i]Obed-Edom the Gittite.

14 So the Ark of God remained in the house of Obed-Edom, even in his house three months: and the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he had.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:3 His first care was to restore religion, which had in Saul’s days been corrupted and neglected.
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:5 Or, Nile.
  3. 1 Chronicles 13:5 That is, from Gibea, where the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim had placed it in the house of Abinadab, 2 Sam. 6:3.
  4. 1 Chronicles 13:6 Or, Baal, read 2 Sam. 6:2.
  5. 1 Chronicles 13:7 The sons of Abinadab.
  6. 1 Chronicles 13:8 That is, before the Ark, where God showed himself: so that the sign is taken for the thing signified, which is common to all sacraments both in the old and new Testament.
  7. 1 Chronicles 13:9 Called also Nachon, 2 Sam. 6:6.
  8. 1 Chronicles 13:10 Before the Ark for usurping that which did not appertain to his vocation: for this charge was given to the Priests, Num. 4:15, so that here all good intentions are condemned, except they be commanded by the word of God.
  9. 1 Chronicles 13:13 Who was a Levite, and called Gittite, because he had dwelt at Gath.

Bringing Back the Ark(A)

13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us,(B) for we did not inquire(C) of[a] it[b] during the reign of Saul.” The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

So David assembled all Israel,(D) from the Shihor River(E) in Egypt to Lebo Hamath,(F) to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.(G) David and all Israel went to Baalah(H) of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim(I)—the ark that is called by the Name.

They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s(J) house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.(K)

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger(L) burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down(M) because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[c](N)

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom(O) the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household(P) and everything he had.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Or we neglected
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Or him
  3. 1 Chronicles 13:11 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.