1 Chronicles 13

David and the Ark

1 David consulted with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

2 Then he said to the whole assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if this is from the Lord our God, let us spread out and send the message to the rest of our relatives in all the districts of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands,^[a] that they should gather together with us.

3 Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him^[b] in Saul's days."

4 Since the proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to do it.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath,^[c] to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 David and all Israel went to Baalah (that is, Kiriath-jearim), which belongs to Judah, to take from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord who dwells [between] the cherubim.

7 At Abinadab's house, they set the ark of God on a new cart. Uzzah and Ahio^[d] were guiding the cart.

8 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before God with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to hold the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.

10 Then the Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and He struck him dead because he had reached out to the ark. So he died there in the presence of God.

11 David was angry because of the Lord's outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place Outburst Against Uzzah,^[e] as it is [still named] today.

12 David feared God that day, and said, "How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?"

13 So David did not move the ark of God home^[f] to the city of David; instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.^[g]

14 The ark of God remained with Obed-edom's family in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his family and all that he had.^[h]

1 Chronicles 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

David consults about the ark. (1-5) The removal of the ark. (6-14)

Verses 1-5 David said not, What magnificent thing shall I do now? or, What pleasant thing? but, What pious thing? that he might have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring the ark to us, that it may be a blessing to us. Those who honour God, profit themselves. It is the wisdom of those setting out in the world, to take God's ark with them. Those are likely to go on in the favour of God, who begin in the fear of God.

Verses 6-14 Let the sin of Uzza warn all to take heed of presumption, rashness, and irreverence, in dealing with holy things; and let none think that a good design will justify a bad action. Let the punishment of Uzza teach us not to dare to trifle with God in our approaches to him; yet let us, through Christ, come boldly to the throne of grace. If the gospel be to some a savour of death unto death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the love of it, and it will be to us a savour of life unto life.

Footnotes

• [a]. Nm 35:1-8
• [b]. 1 Ch 10:14; 15:13
• [c]. Or to Lebo-hamath
• [d]. Or and his brothers
• [e]. Or Perez-uzzah
• [f]. Lit to himself
• [g]. 1 Ch 26:4
• [h]. 2 Sm 6:3-11

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 13

The contents of this chapter are the same with 2Sa 6:1-11, only David's consultation with the principal men of Israel concerning the affair herein transacted is premised in the first four verses of this.