1 Chronicles 13

David’s first attempt to move the chest

1 After consulting with the captains of the units of a thousand and a hundred, in fact with every leader,

2 David said to the entire Israelite assembly: "If you approve, and if the LORD our God agrees, let's spread the word to the rest of our relatives in all the regions of Israel, including the priests and Levites in their cities with pasturelands. Let's ask them to join us

3 so that we may bring the chest of our God back to us, because we didn't look for it in Saul's days."

4 The whole assembly agreed to do so, because all the people thought it was the right thing to do.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the border of Egypt to Lebo-hamath in order to bring up God's chest from Kiriath-jearim.

6 Then David and all Israel went up toward Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the chest of God, the LORD, who sits enthroned on the winged creatures, where he is called by name.

7 They moved God's chest on a new cart from Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,

8 while David and all Israel celebrated in God's presence with all their strength, accompanied by songs, zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the chest and grabbed it because the oxen had stumbled.

10 But the LORD became angry with Uzzah and struck him because he had placed his hand on the chest. He died right there before God.

11 David was angry that the LORD lashed out at Uzzah; and so that place is still called Perez-uzzah today.

12 David was frightened by God that day. "How will I ever bring God's chest home to me?" he asked.

13 So David didn't take the chest away with him to David's City. Instead, he had it put in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 God's chest stayed with Obed-edom's household for three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom's household and 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb Shikhor, river; cf Josh 15:4; 1 Kgs 8:65; 2 Chron 7:8
• [b]. Heb uncertain

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.