1 Chronicles 13

Peril in Transporting the Ark

1 Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.

2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is from the LORD our God, let us send everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may meet with us;

3 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, ¹for we did not seek it in the days of Saul."

4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 ²So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, ³to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 ⁴David and all Israel went up to ⁵Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the LORD ⁶who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called.

7 They carried the ark of God on a new cart from ⁷the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

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

9 When they came to ⁹the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it.

10 The anger of the LORD burned against Uzza, so He struck him down ¹⁰because * he put out his hand to the ark; ¹¹and he died there before God.

11 Then David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst * against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza to this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?"

13 So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside ¹²to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months; and ¹³the LORD blessed the family of Obed-edom with all that he had.

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.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 7:1, 2
• 2. 2 Samuel 6:1; 1 Kings 8:65; 1 Chronicles 15:3
• 3. 1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1
• 4. 2 Samuel 6:2-11
• 5. Joshua 15:9
• 6. Exodus 25:22; 2 Kings 19:15
• 7. 1 Samuel 7:1
• 8. 1 Chronicles 15:16
• 9. 2 Samuel 6:6
• 10. 1 Chronicles 15:13, 15
• 11. Leviticus 10:2
• 12. 1 Chronicles 15:25
• 13. 1 Chronicles 26:4, 5

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "caused to ride"
• [b]. Lit "the LORD had broken through a breakthrough"
• [c]. I.e. the breakthrough of Uzza

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.