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The Ark(A)

13 So David conferred with the captains of the thousands and of the hundreds and with every leader. Then he said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and to the Lord our God, let us send word to the rest of our brothers throughout all the land of Israel along with the priests and the Levites in their cities, that they might join us here. Then let us bring the ark of the Lord our God back to us, for we did not seek it during the days of Saul.” Then all the assembly agreed to do it because the thing seemed right in the eyes of all the people.

So David assembled all Israel, from Shihor in Egypt as far as the entrance to Hamath, in order to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. And he went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up the ark of God, the Lord who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is called.

They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart while David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, performing songs on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

When they had come as far as the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah stretched out his hand to take hold of the ark because the oxen had stumbled on the path. 10 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and He struck him because he reached his hand out to touch the ark. Thus, Uzzah died there before God.

11 Now David was angry because the Lord struck out against Uzzah, so he called that place Perez Uzzah, as it is to this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to myself?” 13 So David stopped moving the ark of God to himself in the City of David and diverted it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite, 14 and while the ark of God stayed in his house three months, the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all he had.

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.