1 Chronicles 13
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 13
The Ark Is Returned to Jerusalem.[a] 1 After David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds and with all of the leaders, 2 he spoke to the assembly of Israel, saying, “If you feel that this is good, for the Lord, our God, has willed it, then let us send messengers to the rest of our brethren throughout the land of Israel, including the priests and the Levites who are in their cities and pastures, so that they can come and join us. 3 Let us bring the Ark of God to where we are, for they did not make inquiry at it during the reign of Saul.”
4 The whole assembly said that they would do this, for all of the people considered it to be the right thing to do. 5 David assembled all of Israel, from the Shihor[b] in Egypt up to Lebo-hamath, to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 David and all of the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah, that is, Kiriath-jearim, to bring up from there the Ark of God, the Lord, who dwells between the cherubim where his name is proclaimed. 7 They carried the Ark of the Lord on a new cart to the house of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio drove the cart. 8 David and all of Israel played before the Lord with all their might, singing and playing on the harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to grab the Ark because the oxen had stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger blazed against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had touched the Ark.[c] He died there before the Lord. 11 David was disturbed because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, which is why that place is called Perez-uzzah up to the present day.
12 David was afraid of the Lord that day, saying, “How shall I bring the Ark of God to myself?” 13 He did not take the Ark with him into the City of David. He had it carried into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 The Ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom, in his house, for three months. The Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he owned.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 13:1 The Chronicler highlights the installation of the Ark in Jerusalem as the first solemn religious act of his hero. In order to lend the event an exceptional grandeur, he imagines all Israel being solemnly summoned to participate in this triumphal action. The capital with its liturgy and its priesthood becomes the holy city of the people of God. The first civil and military activities of the reign (ch. 14) will be simply an interlude in this solemnity.
- 1 Chronicles 13:5 Shihor: usually called “the River of Egypt”; this marked the southern border of Palestine.
- 1 Chronicles 13:10 Uzzah . . . touched the Ark: in his fervent desire to protect the Ark, Uzzah, son of Shimei, disregarded the strict rules for moving it that were assigned by God to Moses (Num 4:5-15). His offense resulted in his immediate death.
1 Chronicles 13
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
13 David consulted the captains of thousands and hundreds, even with every leader.
2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, If it seems good to you and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send abroad everywhere to our brethren who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites in their cities that have suburbs and pasturelands, that they may gather together with us.
3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it during the days of Saul.
4 And all the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing seemed right in the eyes of all the people.
5 So David gathered all Israel together, from the Shihor, the brook of Egypt [that marked the southeast border of Palestine], to the entrance of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, which is called by the name of Him Who sits [enthroned] above the cherubim.
7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio [his brother] drove the cart.
8 And David and all Israel merrily celebrated before God with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.
9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen [that were drawing the cart] stumbled and were restive.
10 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and He smote him because he touched the ark; and there he died before God.(A)
11 And David was offended because the Lord had broken forth upon Uzza; that place to this day is called Perez-uzza [the breaking forth upon Uzza].
12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, How can I bring the ark of God home to me?
13 So David did not bring the ark home to the City of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite [a Levitical porter born in Gath-rimmon].(B)
14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
