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The Special Box Brought from Kiriath-Jearim

13 Then David spoke with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds and with every leader about what should be done. David spoke to all the people of Israel. He said, “If you think it is good, and if it is from the Lord our God, let us send word to our brothers who are staying in all the land of Israel. Let us send word to the religious leaders and Levites who are with them in their cities that have fields. And let us ask them to meet with us. Let us bring the special box with the Law of our God to us. For we did not think of it in the days of Saul.” Then all the people said that they would do so. For it was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David gathered all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt to the gate of Hamath, to bring the special box of God from Kiriath-jearim. David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim which belongs to Judah. They went to bring the special box of God. It is called by the name of the Lord Who sits on His throne above the cherubim. They carried the special box of God on a new wagon from the house of Abinadab. And Uzza and Ahio drove the wagon. David and all Israel were showing their joy before God with all their strength. They were singing and playing harps and timbrels, and blowing horns.

When they came to the grain-floor of Chidon, the cattle pulling the wagon tripped. And Uzza put out his hand to hold the special box of God. 10 Then the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza. So He killed him because Uzza had put out his hand to the special box of God, so before God he died. 11 Then David became angry because the Lord had killed Uzza in His anger. That place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the special box of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the special box of God with him to the city of David. He took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 The special box of God stayed with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months. The Lord brought good to Obed-edom’s family and all that he had.