131 And David consulteth with the heads of the thousands, and of the hundreds, every leader, 2 and David saith to all the assembly of Israel, 'If unto you it be good, and from Jehovah our God it hath broken forth—we send unto our brethren, those left in all the lands of Israel, and with them the priests and the Levites, in the cities of their suburbs, and they are gathered unto us, 3 and we bring round the ark of our God unto us, for we sought Him not in the days of Saul.' 4 And all the assembly say to do so, for the thing is right in the eyes of all the people.
5 And David assembleth all Israel from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering in of Hamath, to bring in the ark of God from Kirjath-Jearim, 6 and David goeth up, and all Israel, to Baalah, unto Kirjath-Jearim that 'is' to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God Jehovah, inhabiting the cherubs, where the Name is called on. 7 And they place the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio are leading the cart, 8 and David and all Israel are playing before God, with all strength, and with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9 And they come in unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, and Uzza putteth forth his hand to seize the ark, for the oxen were released, 10 and the anger of Jehovah is kindled against Uzza, and He smiteth him, because that he hath put forth his hand on the ark, and he dieth there before God. 11 And it is displeasing to David, because Jehovah hath made a breach upon Uzza, and one calleth that place 'Breach of Uzza' unto this day. 12 And David feareth God on that day, saying, 'How do I bring in unto me the ark of God?' 13 And David hath not turned aside the ark unto himself, unto the city of David, and turneth it aside unto the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 14 And the ark of God dwelleth with the household of Obed-Edom, in his house, three months, and Jehovah blesseth the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he hath.
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.