The Ark is Moved from Kiriath-jearim

(2 Samuel 6:1-11)

1Later, David conferred with every officera in charge of groups of thousands and groups ofb hundreds. 2Then hec addressed the entire community of Israel, “If it seems good to you and something from the Lord our God, let’s spread word to all of our relatives who remain throughout the entire land of Israel, including the priests and descendants of Levi in the cities and pasture lands, so they can gather together with us. 3Then let’s bring the Ark of God back to us, because we didn’t consult it during Saul’s reign.”d 4The entire community consented, because doing so pleased all the people. 5So David assembled all of Israel—from the Shihor River of Egypt to Lebo-hamath—in order to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.

6David, accompanied by all of Israel, went up to Baalah (the former name of Kiriath-jearim), which belonged to Judah, to bring from there the Ark of God, the LORD, who sits enthroned on the cherubim, and who is called the Name.e 7They mounted the Ark of God on a new cart, bringing it from Abinadab’s home, with Uzzah and Ahio driving the cart. 8David and all of Israel were dancing in the presence of God with all of theirf might with songs,g harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9As they approached Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. 10Just then, the anger of the LORD blazed against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark, and he died right there in the presence of God.

11David flew into a rage because the LORD had killedh Uzzah. As a result, that place was called Perez-uzzahi to this day. 12But David feared God that day, and asked “How am I to bring the Ark of God to me?” 13As a result, David would not take the ark into the City of David for it to be in his care. Instead, he took it to the home of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14So the Ark of God remained in the care of Obed-edom’s household for three months, and God blessed Obed-edom’s household, along with everyone associated with it.