1 Chronicles 13

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

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

2 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.

David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let’s send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us.

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

Also, let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again, for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”

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

All the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

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

So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

6 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.

David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God the LORD’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name.

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

They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

8 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.

David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets.

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

When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

10 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.

The LORD’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.

11 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.

David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.

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

David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”

13 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.

So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.

14 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.

God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.