131 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, with every prince. 2 And David said to all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good to you, and it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad to our brethren everywhere, that are left in all the lands of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves to us; 3 and let us bring again the ark of our God to us; for we inquired not of it in the days of Saul. 4 And all the congregation said that they should do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5 And David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt unto the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim. 6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, to Kirjath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, of Jehovah, who sitteth between the cherubim, whose name is placed [there]. 7 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart out of the house of Abinadab; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. 8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with lutes, and with tambours, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen had stumbled. 10 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he had put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God. 11 And David was indignant; for Jehovah had made a breach upon Uzza; and he called that place Perez-Uzza to this day. 12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God to me? 13 And David brought not the ark home unto himself into the city of David, but he carried it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he had.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 13:1-54
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 13:1-5
(Read 1 Chronicles 13:1-5)
David said not, What magnificent thing shall I do now? or, What pleasant thing? but, What pious thing? that he might have the comfort and benefit of that sacred oracle. Let us bring the ark to us, that it may be a blessing to us. Those who honour God, profit themselves. It is the wisdom of those setting out in the world, to take God's ark with them. Those are likely to go on in the favour of God, who begin in the fear of God.
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 13:6-14
(Read 1 Chronicles 13:6-14)
Let the sin of Uzza warn all to take heed of presumption, rashness, and irreverence, in dealing with holy things; and let none think that a good design will justify a bad action. Let the punishment of Uzza teach us not to dare to trifle with God in our approaches to him; yet let us, through Christ, come boldly to the throne of grace. If the gospel be to some a savour of death unto death, as the ark was to Uzza, yet let us receive it in the love of it, and it will be to us a savour of life unto life.