1 Chronicles 13

1 David consulted with every officer who commanded a regiment or battalion.

2 Then he told the whole assembly of Israel, "If you approve and if the LORD our God has consented, we will send [an invitation] to the rest of our relatives in every region of Israel and to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands so that they may join us.

3 Then we'll bring back our God's ark, which we ignored while Saul was king."

4 The whole assembly agreed to this because the people considered it the right thing to do.

5 So David gathered all Israel from the Shihor River near Egypt to the border of Hamath in order to bring God's ark from Kiriath Jearim.

6 David and all Israel went to Baalah in Kiriath Jearim, which is in Judah, to bring God's ark [to Jerusalem]. (The LORD is enthroned over the angels [on the ark] where his name is used.)

7 David and his men put God's ark on a new cart from Abinadab's home. Uzzah and Ahio guided the cart.

8 David and all Israel were celebrating in God's presence with all their might, with songs, with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 But when they came to Chidon's threshing floor, the oxen stumbled. So Uzzah reached out to grab the ark.

10 The LORD became angry with Uzzah and killed him for reaching for the ark. He died in God's presence.

11 David was angry because the LORD had struck Uzzah so violently. (That place is still called Perez Uzzah [The Striking of Uzzah] today.)

12 David was afraid of God that day. "How can I bring God's ark to my [city]?" he asked.

13 So he didn't bring God's ark to his [home], the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath.

14 God's ark stayed at the home of Obed Edom with his family for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed Edom's family and everything he owned.

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.

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.