1 Chronicles 13

Living Bible

13 After David had consulted with all of his army officers, ² he addressed the assembled men of Israel as follows:

“Since you think that I should be your king, and since the Lord our God has given his approval, let us send messages to our brothers throughout the land of Israel, including the priests and Levites, inviting them to come and join us. ³ And let us bring back the Ark of our God, for we have been neglecting it ever since Saul became king.”

⁴ There was unanimous consent, for everyone agreed with him. ⁵ So David summoned the people of Israel from all across the nation^[a] so that they could be present when the Ark of God was brought from Kiriath-jearim.

⁶ Then David and all Israel went to Baalah (i.e., Kiriath-jearim) in Judah to bring back the Ark of the Lord God enthroned above the Guardian Angels.^{[b] 7} It was taken from the house of Abinadab on a new cart. Uzza and Ahio drove the oxen. ⁸ Then David and all the people danced before the Lord with great enthusiasm, accompanied by singing and by zithers, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. ⁹ But as they arrived at the threshing floor of Chidon, the oxen stumbled and Uzza reached out his hand to steady the Ark. ¹⁰ Then the anger of the Lord blazed out against Uzza, and killed him because he had touched the Ark. And so he died there before God. ¹¹ David was angry at the Lord for what he had done to Uzza and he named the place “The Outbreak Against Uzza.” And it is still called that today.

¹² Now David was afraid of God and asked, “How shall I ever get the Ark of God home?”

¹³ Finally he decided to take it to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite instead of bringing it to the City of David. ¹⁴ The Ark remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his family.