1 Chronicles 13:8-14·~1 min

Uzzah Touches the Ark

David and all Israel celebrate before God with music, song, and full strength as the ark is carried along.

D⁸avid and all the Israelites were celebrating before God with all their might, with songs and on harps and lyres, with tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

When the oxen stumble, Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark, and the LORD's anger breaks out against him. He dies there before God for putting his hand on it.

⁹When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled. ¹⁰And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God.

David reacts with anger and fear, names the place Perez-uzzah, and abandons the plan to bring the ark into the City of David. The ark stays with Obed-edom for three months, and the LORD blesses his household.

¹¹Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. ¹²That day David feared God and asked, “How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?” ¹³So he did not move the ark with him to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. ¹⁴Thus the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house for three months, and the LORD blessed his household and everything he owned.

Section summaryThe procession begins in full celebration, but when the oxen stumble and Uzzah grabs the ark, the LORD strikes him down. David's joy turns to anger and fear, and the ark stops short of Jerusalem, remaining with Obed-edom, whose household is blessed.

Role in the chapterThis section interrupts triumph with the severity of God's holiness. It turns the chapter from celebration to fear and leaves the ark nearby but not yet in David's city, while showing that God's presence brings blessing as well as danger.