1 Chronicles 13

David Makes Plans to Bring the Ark Back

1 David chopped it up with his crew, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, all the leaders in place.

2 He said to the whole squad, “If you all agree, and if the LORD our God is down with it, let us send word everywhere, to the rest of our people across Israel, including the priests and Levites in their towns, and bring everybody in so we can all move together.”

3 “We must bring back the Ark of our God. We have not been seeking Him right since the days of Saul.”

4 The whole nation gave the green light, because the plan felt right to the people.

The Ark’s Journey Begins

5 So David gathered all of Israel, from the Egyptian border at Shihor all the way to Lebo-hamath, to bring back the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6 David and all Israel rolled up to Baalah (also called Kiriath-jearim in Judah) to pick up the Ark of God, the Ark that carries the Name of the LORD who sits on the throne between the cherubim.

7 They put the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it out from Abinadab’s house. Uzza and Ahio were up front, guiding the cart.

8 David and the whole crew of Israel were hyped, dancing with everything they had before God, with songs, harps, lyres, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. It was a full-on celebration.

Uzza Reaches Out, and God Responds

9 But when they got to the threshing floor of Chidon, the oxen stumbled. Uzza put his hand out to steady the Ark.

10 God’s anger hit hard. Just like that, the LORD struck Uzza down because he touched the Ark. He died right there in front of God.

11 David was heated because the LORD had broke out against Uzza. So they named that place Perez-uzza, which means “the breaking out against Uzza”, and that name still stuck.

12 That moment hit David deep. He got scared of God and said, “How can I even bring the Ark of God to me now?”

David Changes the Plan

13 David did not move the Ark into his crib, the City of David. Instead, he rerouted it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 So the Ark stayed at Obed-edom’s spot for three months, and the LORD blessed his house and everything he had.