1 Chronicles 13

1 Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of hundreds and of thousands.

David had discussions with all his leaders, including the army commanders of thousands and hundreds.

2 And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us.

Then he addressed the whole assembly of Israel, saying, “If you agree, and if God approves, let us send an invitation to every Israelite in the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pastures, to come and join us.

3 Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.”

Let us bring the Ark of our God back to us, because we forgot about it during the time of Saul.”

4 And because this proposal seemed right to all the people, the whole assembly agreed to it.

The whole assembly was pleased with the proposal, agreeing that this would be a good thing to do.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

So David summoned all of Israel, from the Shihor River of Egypt up to Lebo-hamath, to help bring the Ark from Kiriath-jearim.

6 David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name.

So David and all of Israel went to Baalah (otherwise called Kiriath-jearim) in Judah to bring back the Ark of God the Lord, whose throne is between the cherubim and who is called by the Name.

7 So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.

They loaded the Ark of God onto a brand new cart and brought it from Adinadab's house, with Uzzah and Ahio directing it.

8 David and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

David and all of Israel were celebrating before the Lord as loudly as possible, singing sings and playing music on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.

But when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah stretched out his hand to stop the Ark falling.

10 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

The Lord was angry with Uzzah for daring to touch the Ark like this so he struck him down, and Uzzah died there before the Lord.

11 Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.

David became angry with the Lord for his violent outburst against Uzzah. He named the place Perez-uzzah, and it is still called that today.

12 That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?”

David became afraid of God that day. “How can I ever bring back the Ark of God home to me?” he asked.

13 So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

So David did not move the Ark of God to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he had it taken to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite.

14 Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.

The Ark of God remained in Obed-edom's home for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom's household and all that he had.