1 Chronicles — Chapter 13
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1Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds.
2And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us.
3Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.”
4And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it.
5So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.
7So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.
8David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.
10And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
11Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.
12That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”
13So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.
1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:
3And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.
6And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.
7And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
8And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
11And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.
12And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.
1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.
2And David said unto all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and if it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad every where unto our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us;
3and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul.
4And all the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor [the brook] of Egypt even unto the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kiriath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God Jehovah that sitteth [above] the cherubim, that is called by the Name.
7And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, [and brought it] out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
8And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God.
11And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza, unto this day.
12And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months: and Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.
1David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred.
2David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, let’s spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us.
3Let’s move the ark of our God back here, for we did not seek his will throughout Saul’s reign.”
4The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the proposal seemed right to all the people.
5So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.
6David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who sits enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by his Name.
7They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,
8while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark because the oxen stumbled.
10The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.
11David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day.
12David was afraid of God that day and said, “How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?”
13So David did not move the ark to the City of David; he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
14The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months; the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.
1David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.
2David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of Yahweh our God, let us send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us.
3Also, let us again bring the ark of our God back to us; for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”
4All the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor the brook of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.
6David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God Yahweh’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name.
7They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
8David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him, because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.
11David was displeased, because Yahweh had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.
12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”
13So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.
14God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.
Summary
David consults with Israel's leaders and the whole assembly agrees to bring the ark of God back from Kiriath-jearim, since it had been neglected during Saul's reign (vv. 1-4). As the procession moves the ark on a new cart with music and celebration, the oxen stumble and Uzza reaches out to steady it (vv. 8-9). The Lord strikes Uzza dead for touching the ark, and the place is named Perez-uzza; fearful and angry, David leaves the ark at the house of Obed-edom instead of bringing it to Jerusalem (vv. 10-13). The ark remains there three months, during which the Lord blesses Obed-edom's household (v. 14).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Largely parallels 1-2 Samuel geographically. Jerusalem (Zion/City of David) is the theological and political center.
- Key sites: Hebron (David's first capital, 7 years), the threshing floor of Ornan/Araunah (future Temple site, ch.21).
- Chapters 1-9 (genealogies) contain tribal allotments but minimal narrative geography.
Places on this map
- JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
- HebronHebron, West BankThe highest town in the Judean hills at about 3,000 feet, 19 miles south of Jerusalem. Abraham bought a burial cave here, and David reigned from it for seven years before moving north, so it carries both the patriarchal and the royal claim to the land. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes that Uzzah's death was not arbitrary divine anger but the consequence of systemic disobedience. David's good intentions did not sanctify wrong methods. God's holiness demands that worship be conducted according to His revealed will, not human innovation or convenience.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 1 Chronicles -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- Naming Saul's Neglect of God's Presence (v.3) — David points out that the ark was not sought out in Saul's days, treating that neglect as a failure worth correcting immediately as his first act of leadership. What has quietly gone neglected in your own pursuit of God that you know needs restoring?
- A Right Desire Carried Out the Wrong Way (v.7) — David's team transports the ark on a new cart, copying the Philistines' method rather than following the way God had prescribed for the Levites to carry it. Where might sincerity and good intentions be standing in for actually checking what God's word says to do?
- Familiarity Turning Into Presumption (v.10) — Uzzah, who likely lived near the ark for years, reaches out to steady it without a second thought and is struck down for treating the holy so casually. What sacred things in your life — prayer, worship, Scripture — have become so familiar that you've stopped approaching them with reverence?
- Anger and Fear Instead of Obedience (vv.11-12) — David's response to Uzzah's death is anger, followed by fear that keeps him from bringing the ark any further. When you're angry or afraid after things go wrong, do you let that feeling push you toward reverence and obedience, or does it just make you avoid God altogether?
- The Same Presence That Blesses Instead of Strikes (v.14) — Left at Obed-edom's house, the ark brings blessing on his household for three months rather than judgment. Does the way you approach God's presence — on His terms, with reverence — turn what could be dangerous into something that blesses your life?