Israel Resolves to Seek Our Father
David consults everyone and moves our Father's neglected ark on a new cart. When the oxen stumble and Uzza steadies it, he dies on the spot. David's reaction is anger, then fear, and the ark is parked at Obed-edom's house — where the household is blessed.
13 1David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. 2David said to Israel's whole assembly, "If it seems good to you, and if it is from our Father, let us send word far and wide to our remaining brothers in all the lands of Israel, and with them the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, to gather to us. 3Let us bring the ark of our Father back to us, since we did not seek it in Saul's days."
4And the whole assembly agreed to do so, for it seemed right to all the people.
5David gathered all Israel from Shihor of Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of our Father from Kiriath-jearim.
6David and all Israel went up to Baalah, Kiriath-jearim in Judah, to bring up from there the ark of our Father, seated above the cherubim, where his Name is proclaimed. 7They carried the ark of our Father on a new cart from Abinadab's house; Uzza and Ahio drove it. 8David and all Israel celebrated before our Father with all their strength—songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, trumpets.
9When they came to Kidon's threshing floor, Uzza reached out to grab the ark, because the oxen stumbled. 10Then our Father's anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him down for reaching out his hand to the ark; he died there before our Father. 11David was angry that our Father burst out against Uzza, so the place is called Perez-uzza to this day. 12David feared our Father that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of our Father to me?" 13So David did not bring the ark to the city of David; he turned it aside to Obed-edom the Gittite's house. 14The ark of our Father stayed with Obed-edom's household in his house three months, and our Father blessed Obed-edom's household and all he owned.
