1 Chronicles13
American Standard Version · Public Domain
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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 13.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David consults about the ark. (1–5). The removal of the ark. (6–14).
vv1-5
David said not, What magnificent thing shall I do now? or, What pleasant thing? but, What pious thing? that he might have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring the ark to us, that it may be a blessing to us. Those who honour God, profit themselves. It is the wisdom of those setting out in the world, to take God's ark with them. Those are likely to go on in the favour of God, who begin in the fear of God. (1Ch 13:6-14)
vv6-14
Let the sin of Uzza warn all to take heed of presumption, rashness, and irreverence, in dealing with holy things; and let none think that a good design will justify a bad action. Let the punishment of Uzza teach us not to dare to trifle with God in our approaches to him; yet let us, through Christ, come boldly to the throne of grace. If the gospel be to some a savour of death unto death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the love of it, and it will be to us a savour of life unto life.
Key Words
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
יָעַץ: to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve
עִם: adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)
שַׂר: a head person (of any rank or class)
אֶלֶף: hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
מֵאָה: a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
נָגִיד: a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
קָהָל: assemblage (usually concretely)
Cross References
1 Chronicles 13Parallel account of David gathering the chosen leaders and representatives of Israel for the assembly.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel description of Baalah (Kirjath-jearim) and bringing up the ark of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel record of carrying the ark out of Abinadab's house on a new cart.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of reaching the threshingfloor and Uzza putting his hand to the ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of God's anger kindled against Uzza and his immediate death.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of David's displeasure and naming the place Perez-uzza.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of David's fear of God and his question about bringing the ark home.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel account of moving the ark to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel account of the ark remaining with Obed-edom and the Lord blessing his household.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies Kirjath-jearim and the house of Abinadab where the ark had long neglectedly remained.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Mosaic command forbidding touching the holy things on pain of death, violated here.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
David explicitly explains later that the breach occurred because they did not seek God after due order.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The law concerning the cities and suburbs assigned to the priests and Levites.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
An instance where Saul did temporarily inquire at the ark, contrasting with overall neglect.
Supported by Matthew Poole