1 Chronicles13
New Living Translation
1David consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army.
2Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: “If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us.
3It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul.”
4The whole assembly agreed to this, for the people could see it was the right thing to do.
5So David summoned all Israel, from the Shihor Brook of Egypt in the south all the way to the town of Lebo-hamath in the north, to join in bringing the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord who is enthroned between the cherubim.
7They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.
8David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.
10Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.
11David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today.
12David was now afraid of God, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?”
13So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.
14The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned.
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