1 Chronicles 15:13

13 It's because you weren't there the first time that ADONAI our God broke out against us. We didn't seek him out according to the rule."

1 Chronicles 15:13 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 15:13

For because ye did it not at the first
Did not sanctify themselves, as the supplement in our version directs; but rather the sense is, ye were not there at first, when the ark was brought from Kirjathjearim as far as the house of Obededom, as they should have been; they were not then employed, as was their business, and therefore

the Lord our God made a breach upon us;
by smiting Uzzah with death, who was no Levite, and touched the ark, which is called his "error", and for which God smote him, ( 2 Samuel 6:7 ) on which place Lud. Capellus observes, the word "shal", we there render "error", signifies a "disease" in the Arabic language, and might formerly design a sudden one with the Hebrew; as an apoplexy; and so the sense be, that God smote Uzzah with an apoplexy, of which he suddenly died:

for that we sought him not after the due order;
but, instead of employing the Levites to carry the ark on their shoulders, it was put upon a cart.

1 Chronicles 15:13 In-Context

11 David called for Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim and for the L'vi'im - Uri'el, 'Asayah, Yo'el, Sh'ma'yah, Eli'el and 'Amminadav -

12 and said to them, "You are the clan leaders of the L'vi'im. Consecrate yourselves, both you and your kinsmen, to bring the ark of ADONAI the God of Isra'el up to the place I have prepared for it.

13 It's because you weren't there the first time that ADONAI our God broke out against us. We didn't seek him out according to the rule."

14 So the cohanim and L'vi'im consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of ADONAI the God of Isra'el;

15 and the L'vi'im carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on it, as Moshe had ordered, according to what ADONAI had said.