1 Chronicles 13
Common English Bible
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, 2 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 3 so that we may bring the chest of our God back to us, because we didn’t look for it in Saul’s days.” 4 The whole assembly agreed to do so, because all the people thought it was the right thing to do.
5 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. 6 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] 7 They moved God’s chest on a new cart from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart, 8 while David and all Israel celebrated in God’s presence with all their strength, accompanied by songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 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 Chronicles 13:5 Heb Shikhor, river; cf Josh 15:4; 1 Kgs 8:65; 2 Chron 7:8
- 1 Chronicles 13:6 Heb uncertain
1 Chronicles 13
International Children’s Bible
Bringing Back the Ark of the Covenant
13 David talked with all the officers of his army. He talked with the commanders of 100 men and the commanders of 1,000 men. 2 Then David called the people of Israel together. He said, “If you think it is a good idea, and if it is what the Lord our God wants, let’s send a message. Let’s send it to our fellow Israelites in all the areas of Israel. Let’s also send it to the priests and Levites living with them in their towns and pastures. Tell them to come and join us. 3 Let’s bring the Ark of the Covenant of our God back to us. We did not use it to ask God for help while Saul was king.” 4 So all the people agreed with David. They all thought it was the right thing to do.
5 So David gathered all the Israelites from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath. They were to bring the Ark of the Covenant of God back from the town of Kiriath Jearim. 6 David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah. (Baalah is another name for Kiriath Jearim.) They went there to get the Ark of the Covenant of God the Lord. His throne is between the golden creatures with wings on the Ark of the Covenant. It is called by the Lord’s name.
7 The people moved the Ark of the Covenant of God from Abinadab’s house. They put it on a new cart. And Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart. 8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their strength before God. They were singing and playing harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.
9 They came to the threshing floor of Kidon. The oxen pulling the cart stumbled. And Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark of the Covenant. 10 The Lord became very angry with Uzzah. And he killed Uzzah because Uzzah had touched the Ark of the Covenant. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.
11 David became angry because the Lord had punished Uzzah in his anger. So even today that place is called the Punishment of Uzzah.
12 David was afraid of God that day. David asked, “How can I bring the Ark of the Covenant of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the Ark of the Covenant with him to Jerusalem. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom of Gath. 14 The Ark of the Covenant of God stayed with Obed-Edom’s family in his house for three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything he owned.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
