Uzzah and the First Attempt to Move the Ark

David gathered chosen men from Israel to bring up God's ark from Baale Judah, also called Baalah or Kiriath Jearim. In Chronicles, David first consulted commanders and leaders, and the assembly agreed. He said they should bring the ark back, because they had not sought it in Saul's days.

They set God's ark on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house on the hill. Uzzah, or Uzza, and Ahio drove the cart, and Ahio went before the ark. David and all Israel celebrated before God with great energy, using harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, cymbals, and other music.

When they came to the threshing floor, the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark. Then the Lord's anger burned against him, and God struck him there for this act. Uzzah died there by the ark of God, and the joyful journey stopped at once.

David was displeased because the Lord had broken out against Uzzah, and the place was called Perez Uzzah. David was also afraid of God that day. He said, in effect, that he did not know how the ark of the Lord could come to him, so he would not take it into David's city then.

Instead, David turned the ark aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The ark remained there for three months. During that time, the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. This first attempt to move the ark began with celebration, but it ended with David stopping to reckon with the holiness of God.