1 Chronicles 13

1 Then David had discussions with the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds and with every chief.

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

2 And David said to all the men of Israel who had come together there, If it seems good to you and if it is the purpose of the Lord our God, let us send to all the rest of our brothers, everywhere in the land of Israel, and to the priests and the Levites in their towns and the country round them, and get them to come together here to 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 And let us get back for ourselves the ark of our God: for in the days of Saul we did not go to it for directions.

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

4 And all the people said they would do so, for it seemed right to them.

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

5 So David sent for all Israel to come together, from Shihor, the river of Egypt, as far as the way into Hamath, to get 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 And David went up, with all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim in Judah, to get up from there the ark of God, over which the holy Name is named, the name of the Lord whose place is between the winged ones.

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 And they put the ark of God on a new cart, and took it out of the house of Abinadab; and Uzza and Ahio were the drivers of 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 Then David and all Israel made melody before God with all their strength, with songs and corded instruments of music, and with brass instruments and horns.

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 And when they came to the grain-floor of Chidon, Uzza put out his hand to keep the ark in its place, for the oxen were slipping.

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 wrath of the Lord, burning against Uzza, sent destruction on him because he had put his hand on the ark, and death came to him 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 And David was angry because of the Lord's outburst of wrath against Uzza, and he gave that place the name Perez-uzza, 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 And so great was David's fear of God that day, that he said, How may I let the ark of God come 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 David did not let the ark come back to him to the town of David, but had it turned away and put into 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 And the ark of God was in the house of Obed-edom for three months; and the Lord sent a blessing on the house of Obed-edom and on all he had.

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.