1 Chronicles 13King James Version
David brings the ark up from Kiriath-jearim. The oxen stumble, Uzzah reaches out to steady it, and the Lord strikes him dead. David is afraid and leaves the ark at the house of Obed-edom for three months. Obed-edom is blessed while the ark is in his care.
David consults all Israel about bringing the ark to Jerusalem. The procession begins with celebration, but Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark and dies. David is angry, then afraid, then leaves the ark at Obed-edom's house for three months. The joy collapses into confusion. The ark cannot be handled casually.
Enthusiasm for God's presence does not substitute for honoring the specific ways God said his presence should be approached.
13:12, And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?, The question is not rhetorical. David needs an answer he does not yet have.
David assembles an enormous, joyful procession for the ark with harps, psalteries, timbrels, cymbals, and trumpets. The sudden death of Uzzah shatters the celebration. The crowd scatters. David is left confused and afraid. The scribe does not explain away the difficulty. Some approaches to sacred things require more than good feelings.
David, who initiates and then halts the procession; Uzzah, who touches the ark and dies; Ahio, who walked before the ark; Obed-edom, in whose house the ark rests safely for three months.
The Chronicler includes this uncomfortable episode to make a point that echoes through the book: genuine worship requires learning how God specified worship should happen. David's error was good intention without adequate preparation. The three months at Obed-edom's house are a pause for David to find out how to do it right, which chapter 15 will record.
For when you tried to do something for God with your whole heart and it went wrong anyway. David's confusion here is honest and worth sitting with.
1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:
3And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
6And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.
7And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
8And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
9And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
11And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
12And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
14And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.