1 Chronicles 13:7 kjv
And 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 13:7 nkjv
So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
1 Chronicles 13:7 niv
They moved the ark of God from Abinadab's house on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it.
1 Chronicles 13:7 esv
And they carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab, and Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart.
1 Chronicles 13:7 nlt
They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.
1 Chronicles 13 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 4:5-6 | "When the camp moves, Aaron and his sons shall go in... and they shall cover the ark of the testimony with a covering of badger skin..." | Specific instructions for covering the Ark. |
| Num 4:15 | "...when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects... then after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them... but they shall not touch the holy things, lest they die." | Divine command for Levite Kohathites to carry the Ark on shoulders with poles, and a warning against touching. |
| Num 7:9 | "But he gave none to the sons of Kohath, because the service of the holy things belonging to them was that they should be carried upon their shoulders." | Reiteration of the command for the Kohathites to carry holy objects, including the Ark, without carts. |
| Exd 25:10-15 | "They shall make an ark of acacia wood... You shall overlay it with pure gold... You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet... And you shall put the poles into the rings..." | God's detailed instructions for the Ark's construction, specifically including poles for carrying. |
| 1 Sam 6:7-8 | "Now then, get a new cart ready, and two cows... put the ark of the Lord on the cart and the gold articles..." | Philistines, who were not under God's law for carrying the Ark, used a cart for its return, providing a misleading precedent. |
| 1 Sam 7:1-2 | "So the men of Kirjath-jearim came and took the ark of the Lord and brought it to the house of Abinadab on the hill... And the ark remained at Kirjath-jearim for a long time, twenty years..." | Context of the Ark's long stay at Abinadab's house after its return from Philistine captivity. |
| 1 Chr 15:2 | "Then David said, 'No one is to carry the ark of God but the Levites; for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of the Lord and to minister to Him forever.'" | David's later realization and correction to obey the prescribed method for carrying the Ark. |
| 1 Chr 15:13 | "For because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, for we did not seek Him according to the ordinance." | David's admission of failure due to not following divine ordinances. |
| 2 Sam 6:3 | "So they set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was on the hill..." | Parallel account of the initial failed attempt to move the Ark, emphasizing the 'new cart'. |
| 2 Sam 6:6-7 | "And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it... Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah..." | The immediate consequence of the Ark's improper transport and Uzzah's prohibited touch. |
| Lev 10:1-3 | "Now Nadab and Abihu... offered strange fire before the Lord... So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them... and Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what the Lord spoke: By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy...'" | God's severe punishment for improper worship, demonstrating His holiness and strictness concerning sacred matters. |
| Deut 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word which I command you nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." | Warning against altering divine commands, applicable to how the Ark was handled. |
| Deut 12:32 | "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." | Further caution against deviating from God's explicit instructions. |
| Isa 55:8-9 | "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways...'" | God's wisdom and ways surpass human reasoning, highlighting the importance of obedience over perceived expediency. |
| Pro 14:12 | "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." | A general principle warning against human self-reliance and disregard for divine instruction, illustrated by Uzzah's outcome. |
| Psa 50:16-17 | "But to the wicked God says: 'What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth... For you hate instruction and cast My words behind you.'" | Criticism of those who disregard God's law despite claiming to serve Him. |
| Heb 12:28-29 | "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." | Emphasizes the need for reverent and obedient worship, acknowledging God's holiness and power. |
| Exo 30:22-38 | Instructions for anointing oil and holy incense; their holiness requires strict adherence to their prescribed use. | Illustrates God's insistence on specific use and handling of sacred items. |
| Josh 3:3-4 | "When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and follow it..." | Example of Levites properly carrying the Ark and the people following its lead. |
| 1 Sam 4:3-4 | "And the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there..." | The Ark’s initial departure from its designated place due to improper handling, preceding its stay at Abinadab’s house. |
1 Chronicles 13 verses
1 Chronicles 13 7 Meaning
This verse describes the initial step in King David's endeavor to bring the Ark of God, representing the divine presence, to Jerusalem. It states that the Ark was transported on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, where it had resided for many years, with Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab's sons, responsible for driving it. The significance lies in the method of transport—a new cart—which, while perhaps intended to show reverence, was in direct violation of the Lord's prescribed instructions for handling the Ark, setting the stage for tragic consequences.
1 Chronicles 13 7 Context
This verse is found within 1 Chronicles chapter 13, which details King David's first, ultimately failed, attempt to bring the Ark of God from Kirjath-Jearim to Jerusalem. David had gathered "all Israel," a vast assembly, indicating the national significance he placed on restoring the Ark's central role. The Ark had been separated from the Tabernacle for many years since its capture by the Philistines and its subsequent return to the house of Abinadab (1 Sam 7:1-2). David's intention was righteous—to unify the nation under God and establish Jerusalem as the religious capital. However, despite good intentions, the chosen method of transport (on a new cart) overlooked explicit divine instructions from the Law of Moses which stipulated that the Ark was to be carried on poles by consecrated Levites (Num 4:15; Exd 25:10-15). This omission sets the stage for the catastrophic event involving Uzzah in the subsequent verses (1 Chr 13:9-10). The Chronicler's emphasis throughout this passage, and especially in David's later re-attempt, highlights the supreme importance of proper, obedient worship according to God's precise commands.
1 Chronicles 13 7 Word analysis
- So they carried: The Hebrew is יִשָּׂאּוּ (yissā'ū), implying "they lifted up" or "they bore." This plural verb refers to David and the assembled people who orchestrated this transfer. It suggests a unified effort, though flawed in its execution method.
- the ark of God: Hebrew: אֲרוֹן הָאֱלֹהִים (arōn hā'ĕlōhîm). The "ark" (arōn) was the most sacred object in Israel, representing God's throne and presence among His people. It contained the tablets of the Covenant. The designation "of God" (hā'ĕlōhîm) underscores its divine ownership and sacredness. This specific title, rather than "Ark of the Covenant" or "Ark of the Lord," might subtly highlight its intrinsic holiness which demands specific reverence.
- on a new cart: Hebrew: בַּעֲגָלָה חֲדָשָׁה (ba'agālâ ḥădāšâ). This is the critical phrase. "Cart" (ʿagalāh) immediately signals the departure from God's commands. While "new" (ḥădāšâ) signifies careful preparation and reverence by human standards, indicating perhaps David's intent to honor the Ark, it contradicts divine protocol. This echoes the Philistine method (1 Sam 6:7) rather than Israelite law for sacred objects.
- from the house of Abinadab: Hebrew: מִבֵּית אֲבִינָדָב (mibêṯ ’ăḇînādāḇ). This specifies the Ark's long-term location for about two decades (1 Sam 7:1-2). The return of the Ark was long awaited, marking a significant religious and national event. Abinadab's household had become the default custodians, but they were not Levites consecrated for transporting it.
- and Uzzah and Ahio: Hebrew: עֻזָּא וְאַחְיוֹ (ʿUzzā' wᵉ'Aḥyô). These were sons of Abinadab. Their role implies direct and continued custody, yet not authorized Levitical priesthood, which was necessary for approaching or touching the Ark. Their proximity suggests a deep involvement, with Uzzah later bearing the brunt of the divine consequence.
- drove the cart: Hebrew: נֹהֲגִים אֶת־הָעֲגָלָה (nōhāgîm ’eṯ-hā'agalâ). This indicates their active role in leading or guiding the cart. They were physically responsible for its movement. Uzzah's position as the primary driver would put him closest to the Ark in the subsequent fateful moments.
1 Chronicles 13 7 Bonus section
- The "New Cart" vs. Divine Command: The Philistines, uninitiated in God's laws, were guided supernaturally in their use of a cart for the Ark's return (1 Sam 6). For Israel, who possessed God's law, a "new cart" signified innovation over established divine ordinance, an attempt to honor God in a way not prescribed by Him. This highlights a critical distinction: God often reveals His power through the world's disregard for His commands, but His covenant people are held to a higher standard of knowing and obeying His specific will.
- David's Learning Process: While the initial attempt (including this verse) was flawed, it served as a catalyst for David's deeper understanding of proper worship. After Uzzah's death, David meticulously studied the Law, learned the correct method of transport, and ensured the Ark was carried by Levites on poles in the successful second attempt (1 Chr 15). This demonstrates growth in leadership and humility, showing that genuine seeking of God includes seeking His specific instructions for how to approach Him.
- The Chronicler's Purpose: The book of 1 Chronicles, written much later, places significant emphasis on proper worship, the Temple, and the Levites. This detailed account of the Ark's transfer (both the failure and the subsequent success) serves the Chronicler's didactic purpose of teaching post-exilic Israel the importance of adherence to God's covenant laws, especially concerning worship and sacred space, to avoid past errors.
1 Chronicles 13 7 Commentary
First Chronicles 13:7 marks a crucial point in King David's early reign, showcasing his earnest desire to centralize the worship of God but revealing a profound oversight regarding the Law. The Ark of God, symbolizing God's manifest presence, covenant, and holiness, demanded a specific protocol for its handling—to be carried by the Kohathite Levites on poles (Exd 25; Num 4). David and the people, while demonstrating fervor and intent to honor God with a "new cart," failed to consult or heed these explicit divine instructions. Their reliance on an external, seemingly logical method—perhaps influenced by the Philistine's use of a cart in 1 Samuel 6—overlooked the spiritual truth that God's holiness demands obedience on His terms, not human terms, regardless of good intentions. This verse is the pivot to understanding the tragic divine judgment on Uzzah (in 1 Chr 13:9-10), emphasizing that divine ordinances for worship are non-negotiable and approaching a holy God requires reverence, adherence to His commands, and understanding of His unapproachable majesty. The lesson extends beyond ritual to the principle that sincere devotion must be accompanied by accurate obedience.