1 Chronicles 15:13

13 Because you weren't there the first time, the LORD our God struck us. We hadn't dedicated our lives to serving him in the way [he] designated."

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 the priests Zadok and Abiathar and for the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab.
12 He said to them, "You are the heads of the Levite families. You and your relatives must perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy. Then bring the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I prepared for it.
13 Because you weren't there the first time, the LORD our God struck us. We hadn't dedicated our lives to serving him in the way [he] designated."
14 So the priests and the Levites made themselves holy in order to move the ark of the LORD God of Israel.
15 The Levites carried God's ark on their shoulders. They used poles as Moses had commanded according to the LORD's instructions.
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