The Ark^(A)

¹⁰ “Have them make an ark^[a](B) of acacia wood—two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high.^{[b] 11} Overlay^(C) it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ¹² Cast four gold rings for it and fasten them to its four feet, with two rings^(D) on one side and two rings on the other. ¹³ Then make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.^{(E) 14} Insert the poles^(F) into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry it. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of this ark; they are not to be removed.^{(G) 16} Then put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law,^(H) which I will give you.

¹⁷ “Make an atonement cover^(I) of pure gold—two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. ¹⁸ And make two cherubim^(J) out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. ¹⁹ Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. ²⁰ The cherubim^(K) are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing^(L) the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. ²¹ Place the cover on top of the ark^(M) and put in the ark the tablets of the covenant law^(N) that I will give you. ²² There, above the cover between the two cherubim^(O) that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet^(P) with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.^(Q)

² He and all his men went to Baalah^[a](A) in Judah to bring up from there the ark^(B) of God, which is called by the Name,^[b](C) the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned^(D) between the cherubim^(E) on the ark. ³ They set the ark of God on a new cart^(F) and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.^(G) Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart ⁴ with the ark of God on it,^[c] and Ahio was walking in front of it. ⁵ David and all Israel were celebrating^(H) with all their might before the Lord, with castanets,^[d] harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.^(I)

⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of^(J) the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. ⁷ The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act;^(K) therefore God struck him down,^(L) and he died there beside the ark of God.

⁸ Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath^(M) had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.^[e](N)

⁹ David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How^(O) can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” ¹⁰ He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom^(P) the Gittite. ¹¹ The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household.^(Q)

¹² Now King David^(R) was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went to bring up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. ¹³ When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed^(S) a bull and a fattened calf. ¹⁴ Wearing a linen ephod,^(T) David was dancing^(U) before the Lord with all his might, ¹⁵ while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts^(V) and the sound of trumpets.^(W)

¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David,^(X) Michal^(Y) daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.

¹⁷ They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it,^(Z) and David sacrificed burnt offerings^(AA) and fellowship offerings before the Lord.

²⁵ So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark^(A) of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. ²⁶ Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord, seven bulls and seven rams^(B) were sacrificed. ²⁷ Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the musicians, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod.^{(C) 28} So all Israel^(D) brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouts,^(E) with the sounding of rams’ horns^(F) and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

²⁹ As the ark of the covenant of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David dancing and celebrating, she despised him in her heart.

Ministering Before the Ark^(G)(H)(I)

16 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched^(J) for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God.