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David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.
Verse 1. Consulted. David wished to give religion due splendour and authority, in his dominions; and he prudently contrives to obtain the general consent. Bible.—“Where there is no liberty, there is no religion;” and no change in religious matters should be attempted, without the consent of the Church. Calmet.
David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let’s send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us.
Verse 2. To us. In the first assembly, David’s motion was adopted, and a more general meeting, particularly of the priests, was convoked. Bible.
Also, let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again, for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”
Verse 3. Sought. Prot. “inquired not at it.” Yet it is certain that many resorted to the ark, at that time. But is was not treated with such honours as David now wished. Bible.
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 River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.
Verse 5. Emath, from “the troubled river” Nile, (Joshua 13:3. Calmet.) or Rhinocorura, ( Tirinus. Menochius.) to the northern extremities of the promised land, ( Bible.) near Emesa.
David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God the LORD’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name.
Verse 6. Hill. Hebrew “to Baalah,” which was another name, as well as “Baslim,” for Cariathiarim. 1 Kennicott. 7:2. Calmet.
They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
Verse 7. Brother. Hebrew “Acho,” which has the same meaning. Tirinus.—Septuagint Syr. and so forth “his brethren.” Calmet.
David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments, with tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets.
When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.
Verse 9. Chidon. Alias, Nachon. Challoner. 2 Kennicott. 6.—He had perhaps two names. D.—Syr. and Arab. “of Ramim.” Calmet.—The ox. Prot. “the oxen stumbled.”
The LORD’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.
David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.
Verse 11. Divided. Slain. See Calmet. 14:11, 1 Kennicott. 15:32 and 2 Kennicott. 6:7. Bible.—The soul of brutes perishes; that of man is only divided from the body by death.
David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”
So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.
Verse 13. Obededom. A Levite was judged more proper to guard the ark. Calmet. 15:18.—Gethite. Because he had dwelt in Geth. Worthington.
God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months; and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had.