1 Chronicles 13

David Fetches the Ark

1 Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. ¹

2 And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us.

3 Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him ^[a] in the days of Saul.”

4 And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor ^[b] in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. ^[c]

7 So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.

Uzzah Touches the Ark

8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. ²

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, ^[d] Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.

10 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11 Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, ^[e] as it is called to this day.

12 That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”

13 So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household 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.

Cross References

• 1. (2 Samuel 6:1–4)
• 2. (2 Samuel 6:5–11)

Footnotes

• [a]. Or of it
• [b]. Hebrew from the Shihor
• [c]. Or the ark of God, which is called by the Name of the LORD who is enthroned between the cherubim; or the ark of God, the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim, where His Name is called
• [d]. Chidon is a variant of Nacon; see 2 Samuel 6:6.
• [e]. Perez-uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.

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.