Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 13

Introduction

First Chronicles Chapter 13

1 Chronicles 13:1 "And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, [and] with every leader."

2 Samuel 6:1 "Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of Israel, thirty thousand." We are about to repeat the same message that was in the 6th chapter of Samuel. I gave the extra verse to show the connection.

1 Chronicles 13:2 "And 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:"

The tribes of Israel had operated somewhat independently. They had not had a central place of worship. In fact, Saul had led them away from their deep faith in God. They had placed their faith in an earthly king, instead of in their One True God. The Philistines had destroyed Saul, and his family, and many of the other Israelites. They needed to focus on God again.

1 Chronicles 13:3 "And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul."

David wants to reunite them around the ark of the covenant which symbolized the presence of God. The ark had even been taken, and carried off by the heathens. It was back in the land again, but no central place of worship existed. The people had really fallen away from their God. No longer had they looked to God for the answers to their problems.

1 Chronicles 13:4 "And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people."

When David brings this to their attention, they know that he is right. They are aware, if they are to be the nation of Israel again, it is God that will unite them.

1 Chronicles 13:5 "So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim."

"All Israel", here, is speaking of the thirty thousand we read of in verse one of 2 Samuel chapter 6 above. "Shihor" is speaking of the Nile River. "Hamath" was in the upper part of Syria. These two places mentioned show the extremes David went to for everyone to be represented in moving the ark. Kirjath-jearim, where the ark was located, was on the western border of Benjamin.

1 Chronicles 13:6 "And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, [that is], to Kirjath-jearim, 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]."

Baalah is another name for Kirjath-jearim. We see that the presence of God was represented by the ark. God had dwelled between the cherubims in the 83 holy of holies in the tabernacle in the wilderness. They called upon the name of the LORD in this place.

1 Chronicles 13:7 "And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart."

They had wandered so far away from the LORD, that they did not know how the ark was to be carried. Uzza and Ahio were sons of Abinadab who had been charged with the keeping of the ark. The new cart was used to show respect for the ark, but that was not how it was to be carried. There were to be staves run through loops on the outside of the ark. The priests were to carry the ark with these poles {staves}. They were not to touch the ark at any time.

1 Chronicles 13:8 "And 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."

The playing, singing, and rejoicing were all in order. God wants us to rejoice in the Lord.

1 Chronicles 13:9 "And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled."

It seemed, the stumbling of one of the oxen shook the ark that it might fall. We must remember, God was displeased with them pulling the ark with the oxen, in the first place. The threshing floor was a place where people gathered, and became landmarks for the people. Uzza was not the high priest, and even if he had been, he would not be allowed to touch the ark.

1 Chronicles 13:10 "And 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."

Anyone who even entered the holy of holies, who were not anointed to do so, would have been killed. This is doing even worse than entering, to touch the ark. It is as if he touched the LORD. He did it to save the ark, but God taught everyone viewing a lesson here, of the holiness of the ark. He was instantly killed. Again, the ark symbolized the presence of God. Had they been worshipping the LORD the way they should have, they would have known the danger of doing what they had done here.

1 Chronicles 13:11 "And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day."

Displeased is, probably, speaking of David’s grief over the death of Uzza for trying to do something good. Had David fully understood the law of God, they would have gone about moving the ark differently. He, like many of the other Israelites, had not learned God’s ways.

1 Chronicles 13:12 "And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God [home] to me?"

David’s desire was to have a permanent home for the ark in Jerusalem. He, now, was so afraid of God that he felt he might not be able to accomplish that. He loved God, but did not understand Him.

1 Chronicles 13:13 "So David brought not the ark [home] to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite."

Obed-edom was a Levite of the family of the Korhites. The ark remained there, three months and Obed-edom was blessed. At least, David knew enough to take it to a Levite, who should know how to handle the ark.

1 Chronicles 13:14 "And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had."

The presence of the LORD is a tremendous blessing in itself. It seems, however, that Obed-edom prospered greatly during these three months. When God blesses, there is no cup big enough to hold the blessings.

1 Chronicles 13 Questions

1. Who did David consult with?

2. Quote 2 Samuel 6:1.

3. Who did David want to send and gather to him?

4. Why were they fragmented?

5. Saul had led them away from their deep ________ in God.

6. Who had they placed their faith in?

7. Who had destroyed Saul?

8. What did David want to do with the ark?

9. What did the ark symbolize?

10. What was the reply from all of the congregation?

11. If they are to be a united nation again, how will it happen?

12. What is "all Israel", in 1 Chronicles 13:5, speaking of?

13. "Shihor" is speaking of the _______ _______.

14. Where was "Hamath" located?

15. Where was the ark?

16. What is another name for Kirjath-jearim?

17. Where had God been in the tabernacle?

18. How had God said to move the ark?

19. How were they carrying it?

20. Who drove the cart?

21. Who were they?

22. What did David and the people do before the ark?

23. Who put forth his hand to touch the ark?

24. What happened to him?

25. What effect did this have on David?

26. What is displeased, probably, saying in 1 Chronicles 13:11?

27. What question does David ask in 1 Chronicles 13:12?

28. Where did they take the ark?

29. Obed-edom was of what family?

30. How long did the ark remain with Obed-edom?

31. What happened to them, while they had the ark?

Verses 1-14

1Ch 13:1-14

1 Chronicles 13:1-14

DAVID’S FIRST ATTEMPT TO BRING THE ARK TO JERUSALEM

"And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader. And David said unto all the assembly of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and if it be of Jehovah our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere that are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us; and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul. And all the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor the brook of Egypt even unto the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God Jehovah that sitteth above the cherubim, that is called by the Name. And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

"And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God. And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth against Uzza: and he called that place Perez-uzza, unto this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months: and Jehovah blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had."

2Samuel is parallel with this chapter in 2 Samuel 6:11. (See our comments on the events recorded there in 2Sa.)

E.M. Zerr:

1 Chronicles 13:1. David was the absolute king of the Israelite nation. But he was a man of systematic principles and knew the value of cooperation. He therefore took his great men into his confidence and consulted them about the important proposition at hand.

1 Chronicles 13:2. The proviso that David made in connection with his proposal was that it be of the Lord our God. With such a condition understood, all of his suggestions would be righteous. Among the brethren generally scattered, special mention is made of priests and Levites. The distinction between these two is in the fact that all priests were of the tribe of Levi, yet not all Levites were eligible for the office of priests; only the family of Aaron had that right.

1 Chronicles 13:3. In 1 Samuel 7:2 it is stated that the ark was in Kirjath-jearim 20 years; that was before Saul was made king. He reigned 40 years (Acts 13:21) and David had been reigning at least 7 years at the time of the present paragraph, making fully 47 years since the ark was taken to Kirjath-jearim. The clearest explanation is the statement in 1 Samuel 7:2 is based on some special conditions connected with the ark, and not on the period as a whole. The ark had not been consulted in the days of Saul because he was not much interested, and also because it was not in its proper place in the tabernacle where the high priest could have access to it.

1 Chronicles 13:4. It is not necessary for a thing to be right in the eyes of the people, to be right before God. It is gratifying, though, when the people approve of that which is right. That was the case in the matter of bringing the ark home.

1 Chronicles 13:5. Shihor of Egypt is the same as "river of Egypt" in Genesis 15:18. It was the southern boundary of the land of Canaan while Hemath was at the north. The statement means that David made a general call for the People all over the country to back him in bringing the ark home.

1 Chronicles 13:6. Baalah was another name for Kirjath-jearim, the place where the ark had been so long. Belonged to Judah means it was located in the territory possessed by the tribe of Judah. The cherubims were on the cover of the ark and God had said he would meet the high priest there on behalf of the people. (Exodus 25:10-22.)

1 Chronicles 13:7. Carried is from DAKAR and Strong defines it, "to ride (on an animal or in a vehicle); causatively, to place upon (for riding or generally), to dispatch)." A cart was used to move the ark which was contrary to the law which required that it be borne by the staves in the sides. (Exodus 25:14-15.)

1 Chronicles 13:8. David and all Israel played means they were merry and expressed their feelings by using instruments of music. The corresponding passage in 2 Samuel 6:14 says that David danced also. Individual dancing was a common practice in those days. It was not like the mixed dancing of the sexes with each other in our times. It was perfectly logical that a feeling of joy would be caused by seeing the sacred vessel arriving toward the city from which it had unlawfully been taken almost half a century before.

1 Chronicles 13:9. It was common for more than one name to be given to the same person or place. Chidon here is the same as "Nachon" in 2 Samuel 6:6. Stumbled is from an original word with a stronger meaning than this. It is defined, "to fling down; incipiently [indicating] to jostle."--Strong. It means that the movements of the oxen actually caused the ark to be shaken so that it was in danger of being thrown from the cart. That would have been a tragedy, for it would doubtless have been burst open and its sacred contents exposed. With all that in view, Uzza had the best of motive in putting his hand on the ark.

1 Chronicles 13:10. Good motives will not excuse a man in wrongdoing. The ark was to be borne by the hand with the staves, and no reason existed for carrying it on a cart. The Lord was angry or displeased with Uzza for his violation of the law and punished him with immediate death. The circumstance should be a lesson on the importance of obeying God regardless of how matters look to us.

1 Chronicles 13:11. David was displeased does not mean he found fault with the Lord. He was worried over the whole thing because it was necessary for God to break off (breach) his favor from Uzza, which threw the situation into confusion.

1 Chronicles 13:12. Afraid of God means he was overawed by the event and intimidated against doing anything further with the moving of the ark as far as Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 13:13. For the time being David had the ark deposited in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

1 Chronicles 13:14. The Lord blessed the family of Obed-edom for the respectful care given the ark during the three months it was there. According to Young and other authorities, Obededom was a Levite, which made it appropriate for the ark to be in his house, although there is no indication that he attempted any priestly use of it. Gittite was a locality term and not related to his nationality.