1 Chronicles — Chapter 13
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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's first attempt to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem ends in tragedy when Uzzah touches the ark and is struck dead. David, fearful, leaves the ark at the house of Obed-edom where it brings blessing for three months.
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.
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.
- Charles Spurgeon: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions — and the road to Perez-uzzah was paved with the same material. David meant well. The cart was new. The music was enthusiastic. The people were united. Everything seemed right — except it was wrong by God's Word. A new cart is no substitute for Levitical shoulders. Human innovation in worship, however sincere, however popular, however joyful, is no substitute for obedience to God's prescribed order. Learn this, churches of God: enthusiasm without obedience is dangerous. Zeal without knowledge kills."
Reflection
- 1. Good intentions do not justify wrong methods (v.7). David's desire was right; his method was wrong. The church is full of well-intentioned practices that substitute human innovation for biblical obedience. Zeal without knowledge is dangerous. Always ask: "Does Scripture prescribe how this should be done?" before asking "Does this feel right?"
- 2. Familiarity can breed presumption (v.10). Uzzah grew up with the ark in his house. He may have walked past it daily for decades. Familiarity made him casual about what was supremely holy. Are you casual about sacred things? Prayer, Scripture, communion, worship — these are not routine activities but encounters with the holy God. Never let familiarity replace reverence.
- 3. Anger at God is honest but must lead somewhere (vv.11-12). David was angry, then afraid, then (in chapter 15) obedient. The progression matters: anger acknowledged → fear of God restored → obedience embraced. If you're angry at God, don't stay there. Let anger become reverence, and reverence become submission.
- 4. God's presence blesses those who receive it properly (v.14). The same ark that killed Uzzah blessed Obed-edom. God's presence is both dangerous and delightful — the difference is how you approach Him. Come with reverence, on His terms, and His presence transforms everything it touches.
- 5. Neglecting God's presence is a failure of leadership (v.3). David identifies Saul's failure: "We enquired not at it in the days of Saul." Leaders who neglect God's presence doom their people. David's first priority as king was restoring what Saul had ignored. What are you neglecting that needs restoration?