1 Chronicles
Chapter 13
TRANSFER OF THE ARK TO JERUSALEM
First Attempt
David consulted with the commanders of thousands and hundreds. With all the leaders.
To the whole assembly of Israel, David said: “If you agree and if the Lord our God wills it so, we will send messengers to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their towns and nearby lands, and tell them to gather here with us.
We will then go and get the Ark of our God, for in the time of Saul we neglected it.”
They agreed to this, for in the eyes of all the people, it was the right thing to do.
So David gathered all the people together, from the Shihor of Egypt to the Pass of Hamath, to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
Then David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kiriath-jearim in Judah, to bring up the Ark of God which bears the name of the Lord who is seated on the Cherub.
They placed the Ark of God on a new cart at Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were leading the cart.
David and all Israel danced before God with all their might, singing to the accompaniment of lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
When they came to the threshing floor of the Javelin, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah stretched out his hand and took hold of the ark.
Then the anger of the Lord blazed out against Uzzah, and he killed him because he had laid his hand on the ark, and he died there in the presence of God.
David was disturbed that the Lord had punished Uzzah in anger, and so that place has been called Perez-Uzzah ever since.
David went in fear of God that day and said: “How can I bring the Ark of God to my home?”
So David did not take the Ark home to the city of David but to the house of a man named Obed-edom of Gath.
The Ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom and everything that belonged to him.
Commentaries
Transfer of the Ark to Jerusalem.
Based on 2 Samuel 6:1-23, the Chronicler greatly expands the story of bringing the Ark to Jerusalem. The account highlights two key moments: the first attempt at transfer (13) and the final transfer of the Ark to Jerusalem (15-16). These events are separated by the story of the war against the Philistines (14). It concludes with Nathan’s prophecy (17). The focus shifts to the religious significance: the Ark, as a symbol of God’s presence; the worship in the city; and the Temple that Nathan foresees.
First Attempt.
The account follows 2 Samuel 6:2-11. David’s first official act after his coronation is to move the Ark of the Covenant. The new king first holds a council with his officers, then with the people, before transporting the Ark. The move becomes a pilgrimage for all of Israel. The episode of Uzzah contrasts with the blessings received by Obed-Edom: the Ark, which visibly represents God’s presence, warrants the utmost respect.