David Plans to Bring Back the Ark
Study note
David discussed his plan with all his military leaders and then with the whole assembly of Israel. He pointed out that the ark had been neglected during Saul's reign. Everyone agreed that bringing the ark back was the right thing to do.
1 David met with all his commanders, the leaders of units of thousands and hundreds. And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2 Then David spoke to the whole group of Israel. He said, 'If you think this is a good idea, and if the Lord our God wants us to do this, let us send word throughout Israel. Let us invite our relatives everywhere, and the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands, to come join us.' 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:
3 'Let us bring back the ark of our God, because we did not pay it proper attention while Saul was king.' And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4 Everyone agreed with the plan, because it seemed like the right thing to do. And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
The Ark Is Moved on a Cart
Study note
David gathered all Israel from one end of the country to the other to bring the ark from Kiriath-Jearim. They placed it on a new cart and celebrated with all their might, singing and playing instruments. However, they did not follow God's instructions to have the Levites carry it.
5 David gathered all Israel. They came from Egypt's border in the south to Hamath in the north. They planned to bring God's ark home from Kiriath-Jearim. So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.
6 David and all Israel went to Baalah in Judah. That is Kiriath-Jearim. They went to bring back God's ark. The Lord sits between the cherubim. The ark bears his name. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, 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.
7 They loaded the ark of God onto a new cart and carried it away from Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart. And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
8 David and all Israel praised God with great joy. They sang songs and played harps, lyres, drums, cymbals, and trumpets. 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.
Uzzah Dies Before the Ark
Study note
When the oxen stumbled at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out to steady the ark. God struck him dead because he touched the sacred object. David was upset and afraid. He decided not to bring the ark to Jerusalem and instead left it at the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark stayed there for three months, and God blessed Obed-Edom's household.
9 When they got to the threshing floor of Kidon, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out to grab the ark and keep it from falling. And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10 The Lord became angry with Uzzah and struck him down because he had touched the ark. Uzzah died there in God's presence. 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.
11 David was upset because the Lord had broken out in anger against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-Uzzah (which means 'the breaking out against Uzzah'), and it still has that name today. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.
12 David became afraid of God that day. He said, 'How can I possibly bring the ark of God to my home now?' And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13 So David did not take the ark to the City of David. Instead, he had it brought to the house of Obed-Edom, a man from Gath. So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14 The ark of God stayed at Obed-Edom's house for three months. During that time, the Lord blessed Obed-Edom's family and everything he owned. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.