1Then David consulted with the captains of the thousands and the hundreds, with every leader.
2David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from the Lord our God, let us send word everywhere to our kinsmen who remain in all the land of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they meet with us;[#13:2 Indicating a proposal, not a request]
3and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, since we did not seek it in the days of Saul.”[#13:3 See note v 2]
4Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for this was right in the eyes of all the people.[#13:4 Lit the thing]
5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
6David 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 Lord who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called.
7And they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.[#13:7 Lit caused the ark of God to ride]
8David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, because the oxen nearly overturned it.
10But the anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, so He struck him because he had put out his hand toward the ark; and he died there before God.
11Then David became angry because of the Lord ’s outburst against Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza as it is to this day.[#13:11 Lit the Lord had made an outburst; #13:11 I.e., the outburst against Uzza]
12David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God home to me?”
13So David did not take the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
14And 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 all that he had.