1 Chronicles 13

David consulteth with the officers and Commanders of the army, vers.1,&c. concerning a general meeting, 2. And the fetching of the Ark from Kiriath-jearim to Zion, 3. This pleaseth the whole Congregation well, 4. To this end David himself marcheth up with all the Congregation, 6. They put the Ark into a new Cart, 7. Declared great joy with singing, and musical instrument, 8. Uza putteth forth his hand to hold the Ark, 9. Therefore God smitteth him, that he dieth, 10. David calleth the place where this was done Perez-Uza, 11. And he is afraid to let the ark be brought unto him, 12. But causeth it to be brought into Obed-Edoms house, 14.

1. And David consulted with the Commanders of thousand sands, and of hundreds, (and) with all the Princes. [To wit, after that he had taken Jerusalem, and was become master of the Fortof Zion, into which he would cause the Ark of the Lord to be brought.]

2. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, [Heb. If it (be) good to, or, with you,] and to be of the Lord our God, let us spread forth our selves, Let us send to our remaining brethren, in all the Lands of Israel, [Heb. Let us burst out, or break out, and let us send, etc. that is, Let us send forth far and near into all places in Israel. It is a Rhetorical phrase, or figurative kind of speech taken from the overflowing of waters that break out and overflow] and to the Priests and Levites (that) are with them in the cities, with their suburbs, [Heb. of their suburbs] that they may be gathered unto us.

3. And let us fetch back the Ark of our God unto us; for we sought it not in the days of Saul. [i.e. We heeded it not much, or minded it not greatly: For in regard the Ark was at Kiriath-Jearim, and the Tabernacle with the Altar, on which the sacrifices were offered at, were at Gibeon, there many of the Israelites made no great ado about the Ark, bit they performed their worship to God in the Tabernacle which was without the Ark.]

4. Then all the Congregation said, that it should be so done: for that thing was right in the eyes of all the people. [i.e. This proposition of the King pleased all the people well, and they found it to be very good.]

5. David then gathered all Israel together from Sichor of Egypt, till where they come to Hamath, [See of the river Sichor, Jos.13.3,5. This was the uttermost border of the Land of Canaan Southward, as Hamath was the uttermost border of it Northward: so that here the whole length of the Land of Canaan is described] to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim. [This History is first described, 2 Sam.6.2,&c. The Ark was brought to Kiriath-Jearim, when it came out of the Philistines Land, 1 Sam.6.21. & 7.1.]

6. Then David went up with all Israel to Baala, that is, to Kiriath-Jearim, [Baala and Kiriath-Jearim was one and the same city, Jos.15.9,60.] which is in Juda, to bring up thence the Ark of God the LORd, that dwelleth between the Cherubims, [see the annotate. On 1 Sam.4.4.] where (his) name is called upon.

7. And they carried the Ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: [This was against the express command of God, Numb.4.ver.15. where the Lord commandeth that the priests shall carry the Ark upon their shoulders: see below chap.15.2, and 13.] now Uza and Ahio led the cart.

8. And David and all Israel played before the face of God [Who manigested his presence above the Ark. So ver.10. See 2 Sam.6.7.] with all (their) might, both with Songs, and with Harps, and with Lutes, and with Timberels, and with Cymbals, and with Trumpets.

9. When they were come to the Threshing-floor of Chidon, [Oth. Called Nachon, 2 Sam.6.6.] then Uza stretched forth his hand to hold the Ark, for the oxen stumbled. [see 2 Sam.6.on v.6.]

10. Then the anger of the Lord kindled against Uza, and he smote him, because he had stretched forth his hand to the Ark: [No man might touch the Ark with his hand save the priests onely, Numb.4.15. of which Family Uza was not, although he was a Levite] and he died there before the face of God.

11. And David was kindled [See 2 Sam.6.on ver.8.] because the Lord had rent on Uza: Therefore he [To wit, David, as 2 Sam.5.20.] called that place Perez-Uza, [that is, rent, or breach of Uza] unto this day. [the sentence will be made full and perfect thus, which is so called unto this day.]

12. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, saying: How shall I bring the Ark of God (home) to me?

13. Therefore David suffered not the Ark of God to be brought to him into the city of David; but caused it to turn aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gethite. [This Obed-Edom was a Levite.]

14. So the Ark of God remained with the Family of Obed-Edom, in his house, three months, and the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he had.