1 Chronicles 13

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 Kirjath-jearim.

⁶ And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath-jearim, 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 Perez-uzza 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 Obed-edom the Gittite.

¹⁴ And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had.

World Behind This Chapter

Explore the people, places, language, history, and material world connected to 1 Chronicles 13.

QUESTIONS WORTH EXPLORING

?

Where was Kiriath-jearim?

It is widely identified with Deir el-Azar / Abu Ghosh region west of Jerusalem, where modern excavations investigate the Iron Age mound.

?

Why was the ark carried on a cart?

Chronicles later contrasts the first attempt with Levitical carrying procedures, making transport method an explicit narrative issue.

?

Why does Uzzah die?

The text presents his death as a breach involving the ark; the narrative does not reduce the event to a simple mechanical rule.

WORTH A CLOSER LOOK

Maps & Geography

Kiriath-jearim and the ark before Jerusalem

Modern excavations at Kiriath-jearim investigate a major Iron Age highland site west of Jerusalem that is closely tied to the biblical Ark Narrative. The exact route of the ark’s movement is not known.

View the map →

⌘ Research PathsCurated links for exploring this chapter 3

Language & Literature1

• I Chronicles 13: Hebrew Text and TranslationsSefaria

  Parallel Hebrew text and translations for the Ark’s departure from Kiriath-jearim, Uzzah’s death, Perez-uzzah, and David’s decision to leave the Ark with Obed-edom.

Artifacts & Manuscripts2

• Kiriath-Jearim Archaeological MissionCollège de France

  Official excavation-project overview for the site traditionally identified with Kiriath-jearim, where the Ark stayed before David brought it toward Jerusalem. Useful for the chapter’s starting point; excavation cannot confirm the Ark’s presence.

• Tel Qiryat YeʽarimIsrael Antiquities Authority

  Official excavation report from Tel Qiryat Yeʽarim, documenting Iron Age activity on the slopes of the biblical tell. Useful for anchoring the Ark narrative in a real highland site without overstating what archaeology can establish.