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:13.2 send…: Heb. break forth and send13.2 in their…: Heb. in the cities of their suburbs 3And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.13.3 bring…: Heb. bring about 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.13.7 carried…: Heb. made the ark to ride 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.13.8 singing: Heb. songs
9¶ And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.13.9 Chidon: also called Nachon13.9 stumbled: or, shook it 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.13.11 Perez-uzza: that is, The breach of Uzza 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.13.13 brought: Heb. removed 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.
Bringing back the ark
1David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. 2He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, ‘If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our people throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasture-lands, to come and join us. 3Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not enquire of13:3 Or we neglected it13:3 Or him during the reign of Saul.’ 4The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.
5So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. 6David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (Kiriath Jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who is enthroned between the cherubim – the ark that is called by the Name.
7They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8David and all the Israelites were celebrating with all their might before God, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets.
9When they came to the threshing-floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.
11Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah.13:11 Perez Uzzah means outbreak against Uzzah.
12David was afraid of God that day and asked, ‘How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?’ 13He did not take the ark to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it 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 the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.
