David and the Ark
1 David consulted with every leader, with the captains of thousands and of hundreds. 2 David said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather to us. 3 Also, let us bring the Ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it in the days of Saul.”
4 All the assembly said that they would do so, for this was right in the eyes of all the people.
5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor the brook of Egypt to the entrance of Hamath, to bring the Ark of the Lord from Kiriath Jearim.
6 David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the Ark of God the Lord who sits above the cherubim, that is called by his Name. 7 They carried the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of Abinadab’s house, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
8 David and all Israel played before God with all their might, with songs, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.
Uzzah and the Ark
9 When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the Ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 The anger of the Lord burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the Ark, and he died there before God.
11 David was displeased because the Lord had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.
12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the Ark of God home to me?” 13 So David did not move the Ark with him into the City of David, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house. 14 The Ark of the Lord remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.