BOOK 13 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

1 Chronicles 13

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1 Chronicles 13 Overview

David consults Israel’s leaders and decides to bring the ark from Kirjath-jearim. The people transport it on a new cart, but when the oxen stumble Uzza reaches out and touches the ark; God strikes him dead. David becomes afraid and leaves the ark at the house of Obed-edom, where the household is blessed. The good goal is halted because God’s holy instructions were not followed.

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Before you read 1 Chronicles 13

Coming from

Chapter 12 ended with Israel united around David’s kingship and celebrating at Hebron.

In this chapter

David attempts to bring the ark to his new center, but improper handling results in Uzza’s death and the ark’s temporary stay with Obed-edom.

Leads into

Chapter 14 records David’s growing house and victories, while chapter 15 will return to the ark and show David correcting the earlier mistake.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The ark was not ordinary religious furniture. The law assigned its transport to Kohathite Levites, who were to carry sacred objects without touching them. The problem is not that Uzza lacked good intentions; the holy object was handled contrary to God’s revealed order. First Chronicles 15:13 later interprets the failure directly.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

A sincere goal does not cancel the need to follow what God has actually commanded.

Truth 2

God’s holiness is not controlled by human familiarity with sacred things.

Truth 3

Obed-edom’s blessing shows that the ark itself is not a dangerous charm; the issue is proper relation to God’s holiness.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Numbers 4:15 warns the Kohathites not to touch holy things lest they die.

Connection 2

Numbers 7:9 says the sons of Kohath were to bear the holy things upon their shoulders.

Connection 3

First Chronicles 15:13 explains that God made a breach because Israel did not seek him after the due order.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not portray Uzza’s death as random divine temper; the Torah had already given specific handling instructions.

Keep this clear 2

Do not treat the ark as magical or as a model for Christian relics.

Keep this clear 3

The passage concerns temporal judgment in Israel’s covenant worship and does not state Uzza’s eternal destiny.

Read 1 Chronicles 13 watching for…

David’s consultation with leaders and the people.

How the ark is transported.

What Uzza does when the oxen stumble.

David’s fear after the judgment.

The contrast between the breach and Obed-edom’s blessing.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-8David and Israel begin bringing the ark from Kirjath-jearim 9-12Uzza touches the ark and dies, and David becomes afraid 13-14The ark remains with Obed-edom, and the LORD blesses his house

And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

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:

And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.

And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.

And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, 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.

And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.

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.

And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

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.

And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.

And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?

So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.

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1 Chronicles 13:10

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