Peril in Transporting the Ark
1 David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader.
2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the Lordour God, let us sendwordeverywhere to our fellow countrymen who remain in all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, so that they may meet with us;
3 and let us bring back the ark of our God to us,for we did not seek it during the days of Saul.”
4 Then all the assembly agreed to do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5 So David gathered all Israel together, from the Shihor [watercourse] of Egypt, to the entrance of Hamath [in the north], to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah,that is,to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the Lordwho sits enthronedabovethe cherubim,the arkwhich is called byHisname.
7 Theycarried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio [his brother] drove the cart.
8 David and all Israel celebrated [joyfully] before God with all their might, with songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to holdandsteady the ark, for the oxen [that were drawing the cart]nearly overturned it.
10 The anger of the Lordburned against Uzza, and He struck him down because he touched the ark; and there he died before God.
11 David became angry because of the Lord’soutburst against Uzza; so that place is calledPerez-uzza to this day.
12 David was afraid of God that day, and he said, “How can I bring the ark of Godhomewith me?”
13 So David did not bring the ark with him to the City of David, but took it aside to the house ofObed-edom the Gittite.
14 So the ark of God remained with thefamily of Obed-edom in his house three months; and the Lordblessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had.