The big picture
1 Chronicles 13 opens in verse 1 with “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and…”, and closes in verse 14 with “And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And…” Repeated or prominent terms include David, Israel, LORD, Uzza, house. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 141 Chronicles 13:1-7
1–7: David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with…
1 Chronicles 13:1–7 opens with “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.” and reaches “And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The ark transported on the cart and the procession halted after Uzza’s death, with particular weight carried by David, Israel, cart.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
1 Chronicles 13:1-7
King James Version1And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
2And 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:
3And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
4And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
5So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath-jearim.
6And 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.
7And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
1 Chronicles 13:8-14
8–14: David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with…
1 Chronicles 13:8–14 opens with “And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with…” and reaches “And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed-edom in his house three months. And the LORD…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on The ark transported on the cart and the procession halted after Uzza’s death, with particular weight carried by David, Uzza, edom.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with…” Naming David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.” Naming Chidon and Uzza keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
1 Chronicles 13:8-14
King James Version8And 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.
9And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
10And 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.
11And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez-uzza to this day.
12And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
13So 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.
14And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 13:1 begins with “And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 13:12 forms a natural hinge: “And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?”
The final note
1 Chronicles 13:14 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words David, Israel, LORD, Uzza, house, edom help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.