1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds , even with every leader . 2And 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 every where unto our brethren 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 ; 3and let us bring again the ark of our God to us : for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul . 4And all the assembly said that they would do so ; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people .
The Preparation and Celebration
5So 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 . 6And David went up , and all Israel , to Baalah , that is , to Kiriath-jearim , which belonged to Judah , to bring up from thence the ark of God Jehovah that sitteth above the cherubim , that is called by the Name . 7And 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 . 8And 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 .
The Tragic Incident
9And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon , Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled . 10And 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 . 11And David was displeased , because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzza : and he called that place Perez-uzza , unto this day . 12And David was afraid of God that day , saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me ?
David's Fear and the Ark's Temporary Home
13So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David , but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite . 14And 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 .