1 Chronicles 13 9

1 Chronicles 13:9 kjv

And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

1 Chronicles 13:9 nkjv

And when they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

1 Chronicles 13:9 niv

When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, because the oxen stumbled.

1 Chronicles 13:9 esv

And when they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put out his hand to take hold of the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

1 Chronicles 13:9 nlt

But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark.

1 Chronicles 13 verses

1 Chronicles 13 9 Meaning

1 Chronicles 13:9 describes a pivotal moment during King David's initial attempt to transport the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. It details how, as they approached a specific location known as the threshing floor of Chidon, an unexpected incident occurred: the oxen pulling the cart carrying the Ark stumbled. In response to this, a man named Uzzah instinctively reached out his hand to stabilize or steady the Ark, attempting to prevent it from falling. This seemingly well-intentioned act, however, directly violated specific divine commands regarding the handling of the sacred Ark.

1 Chronicles 13 9 Context

This verse is part of David's earnest, yet flawed, initial attempt to bring the Ark of God from Kiriath-Jearim, where it had resided for many years since the Philistine return, to Jerusalem, the newly established capital. The preceding verses (1 Chron 13:1-8) detail David's grand preparations: consulting with his leaders, assembling a large congregation from all Israel, and commencing the procession with music and rejoicing. The primary error, not explicitly stated in verse 9 but implied by the consequence and later revelation (1 Chron 15:13), was transporting the Ark on a new cart drawn by oxen, rather than having it carried on the shoulders of the appointed Kohathite Levites by means of poles (as prescribed in Exodus and Numbers). The Ark, symbolizing God's manifest presence and the very throne of His holiness, demanded specific adherence to divine instructions for handling. Verse 9 sets the scene for the tragic death of Uzzah, a stark interruption to the jubilant procession, highlighting God's absolute holiness and the necessity of strict obedience to His commands concerning His presence.

1 Chronicles 13 9 Word analysis

• When they came: Indicates the progression of the journey, emphasizing that the incident occurred mid-procession, during the outward display of devotion.
• to the threshing floor of Chidon (גֹּרֶן כִּידוֹן, gōren Kîḏôn):
  • Gōren (גֹּרֶן): "threshing floor." This was a common, open area, typically elevated and swept clean, used for separating grain from chaff. Its mundane nature contrasts sharply with the sacredness of the Ark, highlighting the unprepared and perhaps overly casual environment in which this holy object was being transported.
  • Kîḏôn (כִּידוֹן): The place name. In 2 Samuel 6:6, this location is called "the threshing floor of Nachon." The discrepancy is minor and indicates either a different naming tradition, an alternative name for the same location, or a scribal variant. Both accounts refer to the same critical event. The Hebrew word Kîḏôn can also mean "javelin" or "spear," which might carry an ironic connotation, as this "threshing floor of the javelin" became a place of sudden divine judgment, a strike.
• Uzzah (עֻזָּה, ʻUzzâh):
  • His name means "strength" or "my strength." This bears poignant irony, as his physical act of strength in reaching out to steady the Ark resulted in his immediate divine judgment and death, demonstrating that human strength is futile or even dangerous when it presumptuously attempts to control or protect divine holiness.
• reached out his hand (וַיִּשְׁלַח יַד, wayyishlach yad): A direct, physical action. It was a willful, though perhaps reflexive, violation of God's express command regarding touching the Ark. It shows human initiative intervening in a divine sphere.
• to hold the ark (לַאֲחֹז בָּאָרוֹן, laʼakhōz baʼarôn):
  • Laʼakhōz (לַאֲחֹז): "to seize, take hold of, grasp." While his intent may have been to protect, the act of touching was a profound trespass. The Ark, being God's special dwelling place among His people, was not to be treated as an ordinary object susceptible to human help or ordinary damage. Its very presence communicated holiness, separation, and divine sovereignty.
  • ʼĀrôn (אָרוֹן): "the Ark" or "Ark of the Covenant." This was the most sacred artifact of Israel, symbolizing God's throne, His presence, and His covenant with His people. It contained the tablets of the Law, Aaron's staff, and a pot of manna. Its sanctity demanded meticulous adherence to divine law in its handling.
• because the oxen stumbled (כִּי שָׁמְטוּ הַבָּקָר, kî shāmṭū habbāqār):
  • Shāmṭū (שָׁמְטוּ): "stumbled, broke loose, unhitched, jolted." This describes the immediate cause of Uzzah's reaction. The oxen likely made a sudden, violent movement, threatening to dislodge the Ark. This event revealed the inherent flaw and danger in their method of transport – a cart – which was an unauthorized innovation for carrying the Ark. God could have supernaturally stabilized the Ark, but the stumble occurred, serving as a direct catalyst to expose the human error in following proper protocol.

Words-group analysis:

• "When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out his hand...": This sequence of events juxtaposes an ordinary setting (a threshing floor) with an extraordinary, holy object and a human act that transgresses a sacred boundary. It sets the stage for a dramatic divine intervention, emphasizing the sudden and critical nature of Uzzah's action in that specific place. The seemingly benign "stumbling" of animals leads to a catastrophic human presumption.
• "...to hold the ark, because the oxen stumbled.": This phrase highlights the chain of causality from the earthly event (oxen stumble) to Uzzah's well-intentioned but forbidden response (touching the Ark). It underscores the principle that human rationale or good intentions, when operating outside of God's explicit commands, can lead to severe consequences. The very presence of the Ark on a cart, rather than carried by Levites, implies a disregard for divine law from the outset, making the stumble a critical trigger for revealing this foundational disobedience.

1 Chronicles 13 9 Bonus section

• The incident concerning Uzzah and the Ark of the Covenant illustrates the theological principle often referred to as "the danger of holiness" or "God's unapproachable holiness." While God desires to dwell among His people, His absolute purity and righteousness mean that proximity without proper sanctification and obedience is perilous. This truth resonates through various Old Testament accounts, such as Nadab and Abihu's death for offering "strange fire" (Lev 10:1-3) and the death of 50,070 men of Beth Shemesh for looking into the Ark (1 Sam 6:19).
• David's initial failure to transport the Ark correctly highlights the distinction between fervent enthusiasm and informed obedience. His celebratory zeal was commendable, but it did not override the specific divine stipulations for handling the Ark. This event taught David a profound lesson in reverence and protocol, shifting his approach from what "seemed right in his own eyes" to diligent inquiry into God's explicit instructions. This change is evident in 1 Chronicles 15 when he prepares to move the Ark again, specifically stating, "No one is to carry the ark of God except the Levites... for we did not inquire of Him according to the rule" (1 Chron 15:2, 13).
• The event involving Uzzah and the Ark serves as a powerful biblical illustration that God's ways are not human ways. While from a human perspective, Uzzah's action might be seen as commendable or pragmatic in a crisis, from God's divine perspective, it was a trespass against His absolute holiness and the clear, unchanging commands for the Ark's care. It speaks to a divine boundary that is non-negotiable, irrespective of human interpretation or perceived emergency.

1 Chronicles 13 9 Commentary

1 Chronicles 13:9 is a pivotal verse that precedes one of the most sobering lessons in Israel's history, highlighting the profound and dangerous nature of God's holiness when treated with casual disregard. Uzzah's action, while seemingly aimed at protecting the Ark from falling, directly violated the Mosaic law (Num 4:15) that only Kohathite Levites were permitted to carry the Ark, and absolutely no one, not even they, were to touch it, under penalty of death.

The narrative emphasizes that God is not dependent on human protection or ingenuity, especially concerning His sacred objects. The incident at the threshing floor of Chidon (or Nachon, as per 2 Sam 6:6) reveals that proper form and obedience to divine instruction are paramount when approaching the Holy God. David and the people, in using a new cart like the Philistines (1 Sam 6), demonstrated a syncretistic approach, prioritizing what seemed efficient or aesthetically pleasing over what God had commanded. The oxen's stumble served as the trigger, exposing the inherent vulnerability of this disobedient method and tempting Uzzah to transgress the specific command not to touch the Ark.

This event is not a condemnation of Uzzah's perceived 'good heart' but a stark reminder of God's unchanging standard of holiness and the absolute necessity of approaching Him on His terms. It underlines that good intentions cannot substitute for obedience, nor can the familiarity of ministry or sacred items justify a disregard for God's revealed will. The tragic outcome forced David, and by extension, all of Israel, to learn that God’s holiness cannot be tamed, managed, or treated lightly. This severe lesson prompted David to eventually seek God's specific instructions for handling the Ark (1 Chron 15), leading to a proper, obedient transportation marked by divine blessing rather than judgment.