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The Ark is Moved from Kiriath-jearim(A)

13 Later, David conferred with every officer[a] in charge of groups of thousands and groups of[b] hundreds. Then he[c] addressed the entire community of Israel, “If it seems good to you and something from the Lord our God, let’s spread word to all of our relatives who remain throughout the entire land of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi in the cities and pasture lands, so they can gather together with us. Then let’s bring the Ark of God back to us, because we didn’t consult it during Saul’s reign.”[d] The entire community consented, because doing so pleased all the people. So David assembled all of Israel—from the Shihor River of Egypt to Lebo-hamath—in order to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

David, accompanied by all of Israel, went up to Baalah (the former name of Kiriath-jearim), which belonged to Judah, to bring from there the Ark of God, the Lord, who sits enthroned on the cherubim, and who is called the Name.[e] They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart, bringing it from Abinadab’s home, with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart. David and all of Israel were dancing in the presence of God with all of their[f] might with songs,[g] harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. As they approached Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10 Just then, the anger of the Lord blazed against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark, and he died right there in the presence of God.

11 David flew into a rage because the Lord had killed[h] Uzzah. As a result, that place was called Perez-uzzah[i] to this day. 12 But David feared God that day, and asked “How am I to bring the Ark of God to me?” 13 As a result, David would not take the ark into the City of David for it to be in his care. Instead, he took it to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 So the Ark of God remained in the care of Obed-edom’s household for three months, and God blessed Obed-edom’s household, along with everyone associated with it.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:1 Lit. Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:1 The Heb. lacks groups of
  3. 1 Chronicles 13:2 Lit. David
  4. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Lit. days
  5. 1 Chronicles 13:6 The Heb. lacks the
  6. 1 Chronicles 13:8 The Heb. lacks their
  7. 1 Chronicles 13:8 Cf. 2Sam 6:5, where MT letters of the word song may be transposed as MT word cypress
  8. 1 Chronicles 13:11 Or had burst out against
  9. 1 Chronicles 13:11 The Heb. name Perez-uzzah means Overwhelming Uzzah; cf. 2Sam 5:20, 6:8

Bringing Back the Ark(A)

13 David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us. Let us bring the ark of our God back to us,(B) for we did not inquire(C) of[a] it[b] during the reign of Saul.” The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

So David assembled all Israel,(D) from the Shihor River(E) in Egypt to Lebo Hamath,(F) to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.(G) David and all Israel went to Baalah(H) of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim(I)—the ark that is called by the Name.

They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s(J) house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, timbrels, cymbals and trumpets.(K)

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10 The Lord’s anger(L) burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down(M) because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

11 Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.[c](N)

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” 13 He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom(O) the Gittite. 14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household(P) and everything he had.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Or we neglected
  2. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Or him
  3. 1 Chronicles 13:11 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.