The First Book of the Chronicles

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 13 -

(2 Samuel 6:1–4)

Then David took counsel with the tribunes, and the centurions, and all the leaders.

And he said to the entire assembly of Israel: “If it pleases you, and if the words that I speak come from the Lord our God, let us send to the remainder of our brothers, in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who live in the suburbs of the cities, so that they may gather to us.

And let us bring back the ark of our God to us. For we did not seek it during the days of Saul.”

And the entire multitude responded that it should be done. For the word had pleased all the people.

Therefore, David gathered all of Israel, from Shihor of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, so as to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

And David ascended with all the men of Israel to the hill of Kiriath-jearim, which is in Judah, so that he might bring from there the ark of the Lord God, sitting upon the Cherubim, where his name is invoked.

And they placed the ark of God upon a new cart from the house of Abinadab. Then Uzzah and his brother drove the cart.

Uzzah Touches the Ark

(2 Samuel 6:5–11)

Now David and all of Israel were playing before God, with all of their ability, in songs, and with harps, and psalteries, and timbrels, and cymbals, and trumpets.

And when they had arrived at the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out his hand, so that he might support the ark. For indeed, the ox being wanton had caused it to incline a little.

And so the Lord became angry against Uzzah. And he struck him down because he had touched the ark. And he died there before the Lord.

And David was greatly saddened because the Lord had divided Uzzah. And he called that place ‘the Division of Uzzah,’ even to the present day.

And then he feared God, at that time, saying: “How will I be able to bring in the ark of God to myself?”

And for this reason, he did not bring it to himself, that is, into the City of David. Instead, he turned aside to the house of Obededom, the Gittite.

Therefore, the ark of God dwelt in the house of Obededom for three months. And the Lord blessed his house and all that he had.

(2 Samuel 6:1–4)

David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.

David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let’s 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 pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us.

Also, let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again, for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”

All the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God the LORD’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name.

They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

Uzzah Touches the Ark

(2 Samuel 6:5–11)

David 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.

When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

The LORD’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.

David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.

David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”

So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.

God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.