The Ark Is Brought to Jerusalem^(A)

6 David again gathered all the ·chosen men [elite troops] of Israel—thirty thousand of them. ² Then he and all his people went to Baalah in Judah [^Canother name for Kiriath Jearim] to bring back the Ark of God [Ex. 25:10; 1 Sam. 7:2–3]. The Ark is called by the Name, the name of the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; ^Tof hosts], ·whose throne is [^Lwho is enthroned] ·between [or above; or on] the ·gold creatures with wings [^Lcherubim; Ex. 25:18–22]. ³ They put the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of Abinadab’s house on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, ·led [guided; drove] the new cart ⁴ which had the Ark of God on it. Ahio was walking in front of it. ⁵ David and all the Israelites were celebrating in the presence of the Lord. They were playing wooden instruments: lyres, harps, tambourines, ·rattles [castanets], and cymbals.

⁶ When David’s men came to the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen ·stumbled [or made it tilt]. So Uzzah reached out ·to steady [^Land took hold of] the Ark of God. ⁷ The ·Lord was angry with [^LLord’s anger burned against] Uzzah and [^Lhe] ·killed him [^Lstruck him down there] because of what he did. So Uzzah died there beside the Ark of God. ⁸ David ·was angry because the Lord had killed [^Lresented the Lord’s outburst of anger against] Uzzah. ·Now [^LTo this day] that place is called ·the Punishment of Uzzah [Outburst upon/against Uzzah; ^LPerez-uzzah].

⁹ David was afraid of the Lord that day, and he said, “How can the Ark of the Lord come ·to me [into my care] now?” ¹⁰ So David ·would not [^Lwas unwilling to] move the Ark of the Lord to be with him in ·Jerusalem [^Lthe City of David]. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom, ·a man from Gath [the Gittite]. ¹¹ The Ark of the Lord stayed in Obed-Edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his ·family [household].

Bringing Back the Ark^(A)

13 David ·talked with [consulted] all the officers of his army, the ·commanders [captains; leaders] of a hundred men and the ·commanders [captains; leaders] of a thousand men. ² Then David ·called the people of Israel together and said [^Lsaid to the whole assembly of Israel], “If you ·think it is a good idea [approve], and if it is ·what the Lord our God wants [the will of/from the Lord our God], let’s send a message. Let’s tell our ·fellow Israelites [kinsmen; brothers] in all the ·areas [land] of Israel and the priests and Levites living with them in their towns and pastures to come and ·join [meet] us. ³ Let’s bring the Ark of our God back to us. We did not ·use it to ask God for help [inquire of it] while Saul was king.” ⁴ All the people agreed ·with David [to do so], because they all thought it was the right thing to do.

⁵ So David ·gathered [summoned; assembled] all the Israelites, from the Shihor River in Egypt to ·Lebo [or The Entrance/Pass of] Hamath, to bring the Ark of God back from the town of Kiriath Jearim. ⁶ David and all the Israelites with him went to Baalah of Judah, which is Kiriath Jearim, to get the Ark of God the Lord. God’s throne is ·between [above; on] the ·golden, winged creatures on the Ark [^Lcherubim], and the Ark is called by his name.

⁷ The people carried the Ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, and Uzzah and Ahio guided it. ⁸ David and all the Israelites were celebrating ·in the presence of [before] God. With all their ·strength [might] they were singing and playing lyres, harps, ·tambourines [timbrels], cymbals, and trumpets.

⁹ When David’s men came to the threshing floor of Kidon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to ·steady [hold] the Ark. ¹⁰ The ·Lord was angry with [^Lthe Lord’s anger burned against] Uzzah and ·killed him [struck him dead], because he had touched the Ark. So Uzzah died there ·in the presence of [before] God.

¹¹ David was angry because the ·Lord had punished Uzzah in his anger [Lord’s anger had ^Lburst/broken out against Uzzah]. Now that place is called Perez-uzzah [^C“the outburst against Uzzah”].

¹² David was afraid of God that day and asked, “How can I bring the Ark of God home to me?” ¹³ So David did not take the Ark with him to the City of David [^CJerusalem]. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom who was from Gath. ¹⁴ The Ark of God stayed with Obed-Edom’s ·family [household] in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s ·family [household] and everything he owned.