Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 13

Verses 1-14

1 Chronicles 13:3 . Let us bring again the ark of our God, which, like the church, had now dwelt seventy or eighty years in an unsettled abode.

1 Chronicles 13:5 . Shihor of Egypt. The river of Egypt, so often mention when the boundaries of Israel are described, is a subject of much debate among oriental travellers and biblical critics. Some contend that it is the eastern branch of the Nile which runs into the sea at Damiette, the ancient Pelusium; and others, that it is the lake of Shirbon, or the small river at the entrance of the desert, near El-Arish. After consulting various maps and authors I feel perfectly satisfied with the decision of Dr. Lightfoot, vol. 2. p. 9. From Pelusium, says Pliny, are the entrenchments of Chabrias, mount Casius, the temple of Jupiter Casius, the tomb of Pompey the great, and Ostracine. The boundaries of Arabia are sixty five miles from Pelusium: a little farther begin the boundaries of Idumea, and Palestine at the lake Shirbon. The word Shirbon implies burning, which corresponds with its nature, which is bituminous. It is described by Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, and others, to whom I refer the reader. It is a small lake, bitter like Sodom, and perhaps had the same origin. Hence the farthest southern boundary of Israel was not the Nile, but Shihor in the way to Egypt. Joshua 13:3. Jeremiah 2:18. In Isaiah 27:12, the LXX render it, “unto Rhinocorura.” Hemath, Emesa, or Emath at the foot of mount Lebanon, towards Damascus, the capital of Hamath.

1 Chronicles 13:10 . The anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, who as a levite ought to have known better. The priest covered the ark with a cloth, and the levites should have borne it on staves; but as men had not consulted the ark all the days of Saul, this custom was forgotten on that day. Therefore the Lord divided the soul of Uzza from his body, as the Hebrew imports. No sinner can approach his Maker without an atonement, and a Mediator.

1 Chronicles 13:11 . David was displeased. David was made sad, and so awed that he durst not bring the ark near to his own house.