1Ch 13:1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.
David consulted with the captains - Such an organisation had probably been established generally through the tribes prior to the time of David: but David seems to have been the first to recognize in these officers of the host representatives of the people, to consult them on public affairs, and to give them a certain political position. Having taken the strong hold of Zion from the Jebusites, organized his army, got assurances of the friendly disposition of the Israelites towards him, he judged it right to do what he could for the establishment of religion in the land; and as a first step, consulted on the propriety of bringing the ark from an obscure village, where it had remained during the reign of Saul, to the royal city or seat of government.
David consulted with the captains - Gratitude for the high and splendid dignity to which he had been elevated would naturally, at this period, impart a fresh animation and impulse to the habitually fervent piety of David; but, at the same time, he was animated by other motives. He fully understood his position as ruler under the theocracy, and, entering on his duties, he was resolved to fulfil his mission as a constitutional king of Israel. Accordingly, his first act as a sovereign related to the interests of religion. He takes the opportunity of the official representatives of the nation being with him, to consult them about the propriety of establishing the ark in a more public and accessible locality. The assembly at which he spoke of this consisted of the Sheloshim, princes of thousands (2Sa_6:1). During the reign of the late king, the ark had been left in culpable neglect. Consequently the people had, to a great extent, been careless about the ordinances of divine worship, or had contented themselves with offering sacrifices at Gibeon, without any thought of the ark, though it was the chief and most vital part of the tabernacle. The duty and advantages of this religious movement suggested by the king were apparent, and the proposal met with universal approval.
1Ch 13:2 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:
if it seem good unto you - if it could be thought by them a good and useful thing, and agreeable to the will of God, and would make for his glory:
let us send abroad unto our brethren everywhere that are left in all the land of Israel - that were not then present with them, even all the common people; whom David, though king, owns as his brethren; nor is his antitype Jesus ashamed to own this relation between him and his people, Heb_2:11 For both He who sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of One, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brothers,
the priests and Levites which are in their cities - given to them in the several tribes to dwell in, see 1Ch_6:54,
1Ch 13:3 And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.
let us bring again the ark of our God to us - The symbol of the divine Presence, than which nothing was more desirable to David, and he chose to begin his reign over all Israel with it:
for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul – Saul being indifferent to religion, and careless about it; and the people also content with worship at the tabernacle at Gibeah, though the token of the divine Presence was absent.
for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul – The ark was then neglected; and the generality of the people contented themselves with going to Gibeon and offering sacrifices there, not caring, though the ark, the heart of the tabernacle, was in another place. As soon as David had power in his hand, he would use it for the advancement of religion. It ought to be the first care of those that are enriched or preferred, to honor God with their honors, and to serve him and the interests of his kingdom among men, with their wealth and power.
1Ch 13:4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
1Ch 13:5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.
So David gathered all Israel together - The principal of them, even 30,000 select men, 2Sa_6:1 Again David gathered every chosen one in Israel, thirty thousand.
from Shihor of Egypt - called Shihor from the blackness of its water, some think the river Rhinocurura is meant, which both lay to the south of the land of Israel:
from Shihor of Egypt —a small brook flowing into the Mediterranean, near the modern El-arish, which forms the southern boundary of Palestine.
even unto the entering of Hamath - which the Targum interprets of Antiochia, the entrance of Antioch, which lay to the north of the land; so that this collection of the people was made from south to north, the extreme borders of the land:
unto the entering of Hemath — the defile between the mountain ranges of Syria and the extreme limit of Palestine on the north.
to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim - where it then was, and had been a long time, 1Sa_7:1 And the men of Kirjath-jearim came and brought up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill. And they sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
1Ch 13:6 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.
Whose name is called on it - “Where his name is invoked” or “who is worshipped there”
To Baalah that is to Kirjathjearim - The same city was called by both names.
1Ch 13:7 And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
In a new cart - Lest it should be profaned by being placed on any carriage that had been employed about common uses.
Uzza and Ahio - achyo signifies brother or brothers; these were the sons of Abinadab as read from 2Sa_6:3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab in Gibeah. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
1Ch 13:8 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.
Psalteries - an instrument of the harp kind; having twelve sounds.
1Ch 13:9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
Uzza put forth his hand - In Num_4:15-20, the Levites are forbidden to touch the ark on pain of death, this penalty was inflicted upon Uzzah, and he was the first that suffered for a breach of this law.
1Ch 13:10 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.
The anger of the Lord - Let the case of Uzza warn us, to take heed of presumption or rashness with regard to holy things; and not to think, that a right intention will justify a wrong action.
1Ch 13:11 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day.
Perezuzza - That is, the breach of Uzza. Let David's displeasure on this occasion caution us, to watch over our spirit, lest when God reproves us, instead of submitting to God, we quarrel with him. If God be angry with us, shall we dare to be angry with him?
David was displeased - Grief allied to anger seems to be intended. He could not easily submit, and be reconciled to the providence; his heart was ready to rise up against God, and murmur at him for striking him dead in such an awful manner. This put a stop to the procession, and cast a damp upon their joy and mirth on this occasion, and might seem to be an ill omen to David, and be improved by his enemies against him:
David was displeased - On further reflection, David could not fail to discover where the cause of Uzzah's offence, which he had atoned for with his life, really had lain, and that it had actually arisen from the fact that he (David) and those about him had decided to disregard the distinct instructions of the law with regard to the handling of the ark. According to Num 4 the ark was not only to be moved by none but Levites, but it was to be carried on the shoulders, not in a carriage; and in Num_4:15, even the Levites were expressly forbidden to touch it on pain of death. But instead of taking these instructions as their rule, they had followed the example of the Philistines when they sent back the ark (1Sa_6:7.), and had placed it upon a new cart, and directed Uzzah to drive it, whilst, as his conduct on the occasion clearly shows, he had no idea of the unapproachable holiness of the ark of God, and had to expiate his offence with his life, as a warning to all the Israelites.
1Ch 13:12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
David was afraid of the Lord that day - Lest he should be smitten for his error also, and especially as he had discovered some resentment at the Lord's dealing with Uzzah; when he ought to have been still and quiet, and submitted to the will of God, and owned his justice in it, confessed his own error, and been thankful for his sparing mercy vouchsafed to him:
how shall the ark of the Lord come to me - the meaning of which is not, how it should be brought to the place provided by him in Jerusalem, for there were Levites enough to carry it, but signifying that it would be either boldness and presumption in him to do it, since God had shown such a mark of his displeasure at their proceeding, whether it was the will of God it should come to him; An earlier consultation by Urim would have led him right at the first, whereas in this perplexity and distress, he was reaping the fruits of inconsideration and neglect.
how shall the ark of the Lord come to me - David's excitement at what had occurred was soon changed into fear of the Lord. If merely touching the ark of God is punished in this way, how can he have it brought up to the citadel of Zion ? He therefore relinquished his intention of bringing it into the city of David , and placed it in the house of Obed-edom the Gathite. Obed-edom was a Levite of the family of the Korahites, who sprang from Kohath, and belonged to the class of Levitical doorkeepers, whose duty it was, in connection with other Levites, to watch over the ark in the sacred tent (1Ch_15:18, 1Ch_15:24). He is called the Gittite or Gathite from his birthplace, the Levitical city of Gath-rimmon in the tribe of Dan (Jos_21:24; Jos_19:45).
1Ch 13:13 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.
David carried it aside into the house of - which was close by, on one side of the place where they were; this man was a Levite, as appears from his being afterwards appointed to be doorkeeper for the ark, and to sing praise before it, and so a proper person to commit the care of it to.
Obededom - a Levite of the family of Merari, being a son of Jeduthun, who was a Merarite. He was a porter, a player on the harp, and was one of the Levites especially designated to take part in the musical services on the occasion of bringing up the ark to Zion , and to minister before it when brought up. He is called a Gittite perhaps from Gath-Rimmon, in Manasseh, which belonged to the Kohathites Jos_21:25. Marriage with a Kohathite, or some other cause, would account for his dwelling in a Kohathite city.
1Ch 13:14 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.
The Lord blessed Obededom - Because he had the ark of the Lord in his house. Whoever entertains God’s messengers, or consecrates his house to the service of God, will receive God’s blessing.
The Lord blessed Obededom - him, and all his family, with spiritual blessings, and with an affluence of temporal good things; Josephus says, that Obededom was very poor before, and in a low condition, out of which he soon emerged, and came into affluent circumstances, so as to be taken notice of by his neighbors, and reported abroad;
The Lord blessed Obededom - The same hand that punished Uzzah's presumption, rewarded Obededom's humble boldness.
