Chapter Thirteen

1–14. The bringing of the covenant ark to Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 13:1. And David consulted with the commanders of thousands and hundreds and with all the leaders, 1 Chronicles 13:2. And [David] said to all the assembly of Israel: If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send abroad to our other kinsmen throughout all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and rural areas, that they may gather to us; 1 Chronicles 13:3. And let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul. 1 Chronicles 13:4. And the whole assembly said, “Let it be so,” because the thing seemed right in the eyes of all the people. Verses 1–4 present a more detailed account than in chapter (2 Sam 6) of David’s assembly of the people’s representatives in Jerusalem for the bringing of the covenant ark. As one chosen as king by the people themselves, he takes counsel with them on this matter, leaving its decision to the judgment of his commanders of thousands, while at the same time advancing his own reasoning, which should have predetermined the bringing of the ark in advance: “Since the days of Saul we have not sought it” (v. 3).

1 Chronicles 13:5. So David assembled all Israel, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. “From Shihor” (that is, “black river” – the Nile (Isa 23:3); (Jer 2:18)) “of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath” (an ancient Canaanite settlement on the southern slope of the Anti-Lebanon (Gen 10:18)) – this is the same definition of the boundaries of Palestine from south to north (Num 34:5); (2 Kgs 14:25), just as the expression “from Beersheba to Dan” (2 Sam 3:10).

1 Chronicles 13:6. And David and all Israel went up to Kiriath-jearim, which is in Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, the Lord, enthroned upon the cherubim, which is called by his name. 1 Chronicles 13:7. And they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; and Uzza and Ahio were driving the cart. 1 Chronicles 13:8. David and all Israel were playing before God with all their might, with singing, with lyres and harps, and tambourines, and cymbals and trumpets. 1 Chronicles 13:9. When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen had stumbled. 1 Chronicles 13:10. But the Lord became angry with Uzza and struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 1 Chronicles 13:11. And David was grieved because the Lord had broken out upon Uzza. And he called that place the Breaking-Out of Uzza; so it is called to this day. 1 Chronicles 13:12. And David feared God that day, and said, How can I bring the ark of God into my house? 1 Chronicles 13:13. And David did not take the ark to himself, to the city of David, but turned it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 1 Chronicles 13:14. And the ark of God remained in the house of Obed-edom for three months, and the Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that he had. The account of these verses presents an almost literal repetition of (2 Sam 6:2-11).

1 Chronicles 13:9. When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzza put out his hand to steady the ark, for the oxen had stumbled. Instead of the name Kidon in (2 Sam 6:6) stands “Nacon.” The discrepancy is explained by the similarity of the consonant letters of these names in the Hebrew writing.