The First Book of the Chronicles

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 13 -

(2 Samuel 6:1–4)

Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us.

Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him

(a)

in the days of Saul.”

And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it.

So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor

(b)

in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.(c)

So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.

Uzzah Touches the Ark

(2 Samuel 6:5–11)

David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon,(d) Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.

And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah,(e) as it is called to this day.

That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”

So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.

Footnotes

(a)13:3 Or of it

(b)13:5 Hebrew from the Shihor

(c)13:6 Or the ark of God, which is called by the Name of the LORD who is enthroned between the cherubim; or the ark of God, the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim, where His Name is called

(d)13:9 Chidon is a variant of Nacon; see 2 Samuel 6:6.

(e)13:11 Perez-uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.

(2 Samuel 6:1–4)

David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.

David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let’s send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us.

Also, let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again, for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”

All the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God the LORD’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name.

They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

Uzzah Touches the Ark

(2 Samuel 6:5–11)

David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets.

When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

The LORD’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.

David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.

David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”

So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.

God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.