Christianity
1 Chronicles 13The Ark and Uzza
Summary
1 Chronicles 13 shows David's first act as king: consulting the whole assembly about bringing the ark of God to Jerusalem, since it was neglected in Saul's days. They carry it from Kirjath-jearim on a new cart with music, but when the oxen stumble Uzza puts out his hand to steady it and God strikes him dead. David, afraid, leaves the ark at the house of Obed-edom, which is blessed for three months.
Key verse
“And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.”
1 Chronicles 13:3
Themes
- Holiness
- Worship
- Reverence
- Seeking God
Text
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
And 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:
And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, 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.
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
And 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.
And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
And 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.
And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Christianity
2 Samuel 6: Uzzah and the ArkSamuel places this event after David's Philistine wars; Chronicles moves it earlier and adds David's consultation with all Israel, making the ark his first priority.
Christianity
Numbers 4: The Holy Things CarriedNumbers 4 assigns the Kohathite Levites to carry the holy things on poles and warns that touching them brings death, the rule broken here.
Questions about 1 Chronicles 13
Why was Uzza struck down for touching the ark?
1 Chronicles 13:10 says God was angry because Uzza put his hand to the ark. Chapter 15 explains that the ark should have been carried by Levites as the law required, not moved on a cart.
Where was the ark before David brought it to Jerusalem?
It had remained at Kirjath-jearim, also called Baalah, since its return from the Philistines in 1 Samuel 7.