1 CHRONICLES 13

THE ARK TRANSPORTED + UZZAH’S DEATH

David gathers the Israelites to move the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem, the new capital. God had already provided specific directions for how to properly handle the ark of the covenant, which required it to be carried specifically by Levites, using poles, not transported on a cart. As they are transporting the ark, a man named Uzzah reaches out and touches the ark when one of the oxen stumbles. Uzzah is immediately struck down and killed because touching the ark was strictly forbidden by God.

David is afraid of God and what happened to Uzzah, so he decides to not bring it into Jerusalem and leaves it at Obed-edom where it remains for three months.