1 Chronicles 13 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

1 Chronicles 13

The Ark Brought from Kiriath-Jearim

13:1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us. 3 Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it¹ in the days of Saul.” 4 All the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

Uzzah and the Ark

5 So David assembled all Israel from the Nile² of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim that belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD who sits enthroned above the cherubim. 7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio³ were driving the cart. 8 And David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with song and lyres and harps and tambourines and cymbals and trumpets.

9 And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God. 11 And David was angry because the LORD had broken out against Uzzah. And that place is called Perez-uzza⁴ to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not take the ark home into the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had.

Footnotes

[1] 13:3 Or him
[2] 13:5 Hebrew Shihor
[3] 13:7 Or and his brother
[4] 13:11 Perez-uzza means the breaking out against Uzzah

Commentary

v1-3: Incident recorded also in 2 Sam 6. David's godly desire, to bring back the ark to Jerusalem; see 15.1; Ps 27.4 explains his deeper desire for God Himself.

David shared his desire with the people, and with the Lord Himself; Acts 15.28; we should be careful in assuming that our desires are of God, and ignoring the godly counsel of others, Prov 11.4.

There was a neglect that had to be put right, that the people had not enquired of God at the ark during Saul's reign.

v4: The people supported David in his desire and plan.

v5-6: The people from throughout Israel gathered together to bring back the ark of God.

The dwelling place of God, over the ark, between the cherubim, Deut 12.10-11; Ps 132.1-5, 13-14.

v7: The wrong method was employed to bring back the ark; Num 4.15; 7.9. David did not consult the Lord about this, see 15.2,12-13. Right desires must be matched with right methods. As in Josh 9.14, there is the danger of deciding what to do first, and then asking God's blessing afterwards.

The ark had been in Abinadab's house for 40 years; perhaps familiarity had bred contempt for the holy things of God.

v8: There was great joy as the people began the journey back to Jerusalem. Yet they had omitted important details, and their joy would be short-lived.

v9-12: The oxen stumbled, the ark became unsteady, Uzzah, the son of Abinadab, reached out to steady the ark, and was struck dead by God. The joy was silenced by fear and anger.

David's heart was heavy; could he ever bring back the ark; Lev 10.3. Holiness is first God's character, and second, God's demands. See 1 Sam 6.19-20; 1 Thess 4.7-8; 1 Pet 1.13-16.Yet they had omitted important details, and their joy would be short-lived.

Perhaps David wrote Psalms 15 and 24 at this time.

v13-14: The ark was left in a nearby house, that of Obed-Edom.