1 Chronicles 13

The Ark Brought from Kiriath-Jearim

1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader.

2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers ¹who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us.

3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, ²for we did not seek it^[a] in the days of Saul."

4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

Uzzah and the Ark

5 ³So David assembled all Israel ⁴from the ⁵Nile^[b] of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God ⁶from Kiriath-jearim.

6 ⁷And David and all Israel went up to ⁸Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who ⁹sits enthroned above the cherubim.

7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of ¹⁰Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio^[c] were driving the cart.

8 And David and all Israel were rejoicing before God with all their might, with song and ¹¹lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

9 And when they came to the threshing floor of ¹²Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down ¹³because he put out his hand to the ark, and ¹⁴he died there before God.

11 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza^[d] to this day.

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

13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house ¹⁵of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. ¹⁶And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom 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.

Cross References

• 1. [1 Samuel 31:1]
• 2. [1 Samuel 7:1, 2]
• 3. 1 Chronicles 15:3; 2 Samuel 6:1
• 4. [1 Kings 8:65]
• 5. See Numbers 34:5
• 6. [1 Samuel 6:21; 1 Samuel 7:1]
• 7. For ver. 6-14, see 2 Samuel 6:2-11
• 8. Joshua 15:9, 60
• 9. See 1 Samuel 4:4
• 10. [1 Samuel 7:1]
• 11. [1 Chronicles 15:16]
• 12. [2 Samuel 6:6]
• 13. [1 Chronicles 15:13, 15; Numbers 4:15]
• 14. Leviticus 10:2
• 15. [2 Chronicles 25:24]
• 16. [1 Chronicles 26:4, 5]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or him
• [b]. Hebrew Shihor
• [c]. Or and his brother
• [d]. Perez-uzza means the breaking out 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.