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The Ark Brought from Kiriath-jearim

13 David consulted with the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, with every leader. David 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 abroad to our kindred who remain in all the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may come together to us.(A) Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.”(B) The whole assembly agreed to do so, for the thing pleased all the people.

So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.(C) And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord, who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by his[a] name.(D) They carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio[b] were driving the cart.(E) David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.(F)

When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen lurched.(G) 10 The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.(H) 11 David was angry because the Lord had burst out against Uzzah, so that place is called Perez-uzzah[c] to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day; he said, “How can I bring the ark of God into my care?” 13 So David did not take the ark into his care into the city of David; he took it instead to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.(I)

Footnotes

  1. 13.6 Heb lacks his
  2. 13.7 Or and his brother
  3. 13.11 That is, bursting out against Uzzah

David’s first attempt to move the chest

13 After consulting with the captains of the units of a thousand and a hundred, in fact with every leader, David said to the entire Israelite assembly: “If you approve, and if the Lord our God agrees, let’s spread the word to the rest of our relatives in all the regions of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands. Let’s ask them to join us so that we may bring the chest of our God back to us, because we didn’t look for it in Saul’s days.” The whole assembly agreed to do so, because all the people thought it was the right thing to do.

So David assembled all Israel, from the border[a] of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in order to bring up God’s chest from Kiriath-jearim. Then David and all Israel went up toward Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the chest of God, the Lord, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures, where he is called by name.[b] They moved God’s chest on a new cart from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, while David and all Israel celebrated in God’s presence with all their strength, accompanied by songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled. 10 But the Lord became angry with Uzzah and struck him because he had placed his hand on the chest. He died right there before God. 11 David was angry that the Lord lashed out at Uzzah; and so that place is still called Perez-uzzah today. 12 David was frightened by God that day. “How will I ever bring God’s chest home to me?” he asked. 13 So David didn’t take the chest away with him to David’s City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 God’s chest stayed with Obed-edom’s household for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom’s household and all that he had.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:5 Heb Shikhor, river; cf Josh 15:4; 1 Kgs 8:65; 2 Chron 7:8
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:6 Heb uncertain