Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 Chronicles 13
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
1 Chronicles 13
Charles Spurgeon Commentary
1 Chronicles 13
"And David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader. And 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; and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul." — 1 Chronicles 13:1-3 (ASV)
And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: and let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
It had lain neglected at Kirjathjearim, in the fields of the wood, as David writes in Psalm 132.
"And all the assembly said that they would do so; for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people. So 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." — 1 Chronicles 13:4-5 (ASV)
A stately array of all the leaders of the tribes, with all sorts of music, to honor the ark of God.
"And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And 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." — 1 Chronicles 13:9-10 (ASV)
I suppose that Uzza, because the ark had been in his father's house for so long, had grown unduly familiar with it and therefore touched it. Yet it was an express law that even the Levites should not lay a hand upon the ark. They carried it with staves; the priests alone might touch it for necessary purposes. It was for this profanation that Uzza died before God.
"And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza, unto this day. And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?" — 1 Chronicles 13:11-12 (ASV)
He was afraid that he also might die.
"So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite." — 1 Chronicles 13:13 (ASV)
He must have been a brave, believing man, to be willing to receive the fearsome ark into his house; but he probably knew that, as long as he treated it with reverence, he would have a blessing, and not a curse, by taking it into his care.
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