David consults the leaders and decides to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. On the way Uzzah touches the ark and dies, and David is afraid, leaving the ark at the house of Obed-edom.
1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds , and with every leader .
2 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:
3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul .
4 And all the congregation said that they would do so : for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people .
5 So David gathered all Israel together , from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath , to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim .
6 And David went up , and all Israel , to Baalah , that is, to Kirjathjearim , which belonged to Judah , to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD , that dwelleth between the cherubims , whose name is called on it.
7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab : and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart .
8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might , and with singing , and with harps , and with psalteries , and with timbrels , and with cymbals , and with trumpets .
9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon , Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark ; for the oxen stumbled .
10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza , and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark : and there he died before God .
11 And David was displeased , because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza : wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day .
12 And David was afraid of God that day , saying , How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13 So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David , but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite .
14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months . And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom , and all that he had.