1 Chronicles 15:13

13 lest, as at the beginning, for ye were not present, the Lord smote us, so and now it be done, if we do any unleaveful thing. (because the first time, for ye were not present, the Lord struck us down, and so now it could be done to us again, if we do any unlawful thing.)

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 And David called (for) Zadok and Abiathar (the) priests, and the deacons (and the Levites), Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab;

12 and said to them, Ye that be princes of the families of Levi, be ye hallowed with your brethren, and bring ye the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place, that is made ready to it; (and said to them, Ye who be the leaders of the families of the Levites, be ye consecrated, or purified, along with your kinsmen, and bring ye the Ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place, that was prepared for it;)

13 lest, as at the beginning, for ye were not present, the Lord smote us, so and now it be done, if we do any unleaveful thing. (because the first time, for ye were not present, the Lord struck us down, and so now it could be done to us again, if we do any unlawful thing.)

14 Therefore the priests and deacons were hallowed, that they should bear the ark of the Lord God of Israel. (And so the priests and the Levites purified themselves, so that they could carry the Ark of the Lord God of Israel.)

15 And the sons of Levi took the ark of God with bars upon their shoulders, as Moses commanded by the word of the Lord. (And the Levites took the Ark of God on bars upon their shoulders, as Moses commanded by the word of the Lord.)