1 Chronicles 13:5-14

Uzzah and the Ark

5 1So David assembled all Israel 2from the 3Nile[a] of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God 4from Kiriath-jearim.
6 5And David and all Israel went up to 6Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who 7sits enthroned above the cherubim.
7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of 8Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio[b] were driving the cart.
8 And David and all Israel were rejoicing before God with all their might, with song and 9lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.
9 And when they came to the threshing floor of 10Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down 11because he put out his hand to the ark, and 12he died there before God.
11 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza[c] to this day.
12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"
13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house 13of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. 14And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.

1 Chronicles 13:5-14 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 14

  • 1. 1 Chronicles 15:3; 2 Samuel 6:1
  • 2. [1 Kings 8:65]
  • 3. See Numbers 34:5
  • 4. [1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1]
  • 5. For ver. 6-14, see 2 Samuel 6:2-11
  • 6. Joshua 15:9, 60
  • 7. See 1 Samuel 4:4
  • 8. [1 Samuel 7:1]
  • 9. [1 Chronicles 15:16]
  • 10. [2 Samuel 6:6]
  • 11. [1 Chronicles 15:13, 15; Numbers 4:15]
  • 12. Leviticus 10:2
  • 13. [2 Chronicles 25:24]
  • 14. [1 Chronicles 26:4, 5]

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Hebrew Shihor
  • [b]. Or and his brother
  • [c]. Perez-uzza means the breaking out against Uzzah
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.