1 Chronicles 13

Bringing Up the Ark

1David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2David said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from Yahweh our God, let us send word far and wide to our kinsmen who remain in all the territories of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, that they may gather to us. 3Let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4The whole assembly said they would do so, for the matter seemed right in the eyes of all the people. 5So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God Yahweh, who is enthroned on the cherubim, whose name is called upon it. 7They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio were guiding the cart. 8David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza reached out his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10Yahweh’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him down because he had reached out his hand toward the ark; and he died there before God. 11David was angry, because Yahweh had broken out against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza, as it is still called today. 12David was afraid of God that day, and said, “How can I bring the ark of God to myself?” 13So David did not bring the ark to himself, to the city of David, but he turned it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and Yahweh blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.