1 Chronicles 13

1 David talked with all the officers of his army, the commanders of a hundred men and the commanders of a thousand men.

2 Then David called the people of Israel together and said, "If you think it is a good idea, and if it is what the Lord our God wants, let's send a message. Let's tell our fellow Israelites in all the areas of Israel and the priests and Levites living with them in their towns and pastures to come and join us.

3 Let's bring the Ark of our God back to us. We did not use it to ask God for help while Saul was king."

4 All the people agreed with David, because they all thought it was the right thing to do.

5 So David gathered all the Israelites, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the Ark of God back from the town of Kiriath Jearim.

6 David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah, which is Kiriath Jearim, to get the Ark of God the Lord. God's throne is between the golden, winged creatures on the Ark, and the Ark is called by his name.

7 The people carried the Ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, and Uzzah and Ahio guided it.

8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the presence of God. With all their strength they were singing and playing lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When David's men came to the threshing floor of Kidon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.

10 The Lord was angry with Uzzah and killed him, because he had touched the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God.

11 David was angry because the Lord had punished Uzzah in his anger. Now that place is called The Punishment of Uzzah.

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked, "How can I bring the Ark of God home to me?"

13 So David did not take the Ark with him to Jerusalem. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom who was from Gath.

14 The Ark of God stayed with Obed-Edom's family in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom's family and everything he owned.

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1 Chronicles 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

David consults about the ark. (1-5) The removal of the ark. (6-14)

Verses 1-5 David said not, What magnificent thing shall I do now? or, What pleasant thing? but, What pious thing? that he might have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring the ark to us, that it may be a blessing to us. Those who honour God, profit themselves. It is the wisdom of those setting out in the world, to take God's ark with them. Those are likely to go on in the favour of God, who begin in the fear of God.

Verses 6-14 Let the sin of Uzza warn all to take heed of presumption, rashness, and irreverence, in dealing with holy things; and let none think that a good design will justify a bad action. Let the punishment of Uzza teach us not to dare to trifle with God in our approaches to him; yet let us, through Christ, come boldly to the throne of grace. If the gospel be to some a savour of death unto death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the love of it, and it will be to us a savour of life unto life.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 13

The contents of this chapter are the same with 2Sa 6:1-11, only David's consultation with the principal men of Israel concerning the affair herein transacted is premised in the first four verses of this.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible