1 Chronicles 13
New American Standard Bible
Peril in Transporting the Ark
13 Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, with every leader. 2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the Lord our God, [a]let us send word everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they meet with us; 3 and [b]let us bring back the ark of our God to us, (A)since we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for [c]this was right in the eyes of all the people.
5 (B)So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, (C)to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 (D)David and all Israel went up to (E)Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord (F)who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7 And they [d]carried the ark of God on a new cart from (G)the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, (H)with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9 When they came to (I)the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly overturned it. 10 But the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him (J)because he had put out his hand toward the ark; (K)and he died there before God. 11 Then David became angry because [e]of the Lord’s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place [f]Perez-uzza as it is to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside (L)to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months; and (M)the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom and all that he had.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 13:2 Indicating a proposal, not a request
- 1 Chronicles 13:3 See note v 2
- 1 Chronicles 13:4 Lit the thing
- 1 Chronicles 13:7 Lit caused the ark of God to ride
- 1 Chronicles 13:11 Lit the Lord had made an outburst
- 1 Chronicles 13:11 I.e., the outburst against Uzza
1 Chronicles 13
Living Bible
13 After David had consulted with all of his army officers, 2 he addressed the assembled men of Israel as follows:
“Since you think that I should be your king, and since the Lord our God has given his approval, let us send messages to our brothers throughout the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites, inviting them to come and join us. 3 And let us bring back the Ark of our God, for we have been neglecting it ever since Saul became king.”
4 There was unanimous consent, for everyone agreed with him. 5 So David summoned the people of Israel from all across the nation[a] so that they could be present when the Ark of God was brought from Kiriath-jearim.
6 Then David and all Israel went to Baalah (i.e., Kiriath-jearim) in Judah to bring back the Ark of the Lord God enthroned above the Guardian Angels.[b] 7 It was taken from the house of Abinadab on a new cart. Uzza and Ahio drove the oxen. 8 Then David and all the people danced before the Lord with great enthusiasm, accompanied by singing and by zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 But as they arrived at the threshing floor of Chidon, the oxen stumbled and Uzza reached out his hand to steady the Ark. 10 Then the anger of the Lord blazed out against Uzza, and killed him because he had touched the Ark. And so he died there before God. 11 David was angry at the Lord for what he had done to Uzza and he named the place “The Outbreak Against Uzza.” And it is still called that today.
12 Now David was afraid of God and asked, “How shall I ever get the Ark of God home?”
13 Finally he decided to take it to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite instead of bringing it to the City of David. 14 The Ark remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his family.
Footnotes
- 1 Chronicles 13:5 from all across the nation, literally, “from Shihor—the brook of Egypt—to the entrance of Hamath.”
- 1 Chronicles 13:6 above the Guardian Angels, literally “above the cherubim.”
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