# 1 Chronicles 13 đź“–: The Ark Moved From Kiriath-jearim
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## Uzzah Meets Disaster
[[#Verse 01.]]Â David consulted with his military officers, including those who led groups of a thousand and those who led groups of a hundred.Â
[[#Verse 02.]] David said to the whole Israelite assembly, “If you so desire and the Lord our God approves, let’s spread the word to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites in their cities, so they may join us.Â
[[#Verse 03.]] Let’s move the ark of our God back here, for we did not seek his will throughout Saul’s reign.”Â
[[#Verse 04.]] The whole assembly agreed to do this, for the proposal seemed right to all the people.
[[#Verse 05.]] So David assembled all Israel from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim.Â
[[#Verse 06.]] David and all Israel went up to Baalah (that is, Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God the Lord, who sits enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by his Name.
[[#Verse 07.]]Â They transported the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab; Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart,Â
[[#Verse 08.]] while David and all Israel were energetically celebrating before God, singing and playing various stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.Â
[[#Verse 09.]] When they arrived at the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen stumbled.Â
[[#Verse 10.]] The Lord was so furious with Uzzah, he killed him, because he reached out his hand and touched the ark. He died right there before God.
[[#Verse 11.]] David was angry because the Lord attacked Uzzah; so he called that place Perez Uzzah, which remains its name to this very day.Â
[[#Verse 12.]] David was afraid of God that day and said, “How will I ever be able to bring the ark of God up here?”Â
[[#Verse 13.]]Â So David did not move the ark to the City of David;Â he left it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.Â
[[#Verse 14.]] The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom’s house for three months; the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s family and everything that belonged to him.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The ark had been at Kiriath Jearim since the Philistines returned it (1 Samuel 7:1-2).
2. Kiriath Jearim was also called Baalah (13:6).
3. David admitted the ark had been neglected in Saul's day (13:3).
4. David consulted his leaders and the whole assembly before acting (13:1-4).
5. Carrying the ark on a new cart (13:7) copied the Philistines' method (1 Samuel 6:7-8).
6. The Law required the Kohathite Levites to carry the holy objects on their shoulders without touching them (Numbers 4:15; 7:9).
7. The threshing floor is called Kidon here (13:9) and Nacon in 2 Samuel 6:6.
8. The place was named Perez Uzzah, meaning "outburst against Uzzah" (13:11).
9. Obed-Edom is called a Gittite (13:13), probably meaning he was from Gath or from the Levite town of Gath Rimmon.
10. Chronicles places this story before David's Philistine victories in chapter 14, a different order from 2 Samuel, which highlights David's desire to put worship first.
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the way into God's holy presence. Uzzah died when he touched the ark (13:9-10), but through Jesus' blood we can enter the Most Holy Place with confidence (Hebrews 10:19-22).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. David had a good goal but used the wrong method (13:7-10). Why does how we approach God matter, and not only why?
2. David was angry and afraid after Uzzah died (13:11-12). How do you respond when God's ways confuse you?
3. The Lord blessed Obed-Edom's household while the ark stayed there (13:14). What does it look like to make room for God's presence in your home?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 3: David calls Israel to bring back the ark, since they had not sought it in Saul's day.
- đź“– verses 9-10: Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, and the Lord strikes him down.
- đź“– verse 14: The ark stays with Obed-Edom's family three months, and the Lord blesses them.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[2 Samuel 06#Verse 01.|2 Samuel 6:1-11]] - The parallel account of the first attempt to move the ark.
- đź”— [[Numbers 04#Verse 15.|Numbers 4:15]] - The Kohathites must not touch the holy things.
- đź”— [[1 Samuel 06#Verse 07.|1 Samuel 6:7-12]] - The Philistines return the ark on a cart.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 10#Verse 19.|Hebrews 10:19-22]] - Confidence to enter the Most Holy Place.
- đź”— [[Hebrews 12#Verse 28.|Hebrews 12:28-29]] - Worship God with reverence and awe.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[1 Chronicles 13 - SOAP|Staying Close to God Changes Everything Else]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes