20140713 Sunday, July 13 2014
1 Chronicles 13: Don't Touch The Ark

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"The anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and He smote him, because he put his hand to The Ark"

The Ark of the Covenant was created to house the second set of stone tablets (see the Fact Finder question below; also Turning The Tables) upon which the LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) wrote The Ten Commandments in the time of Moses (The Ten Commandments existed before writing, right from the beginning, in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were fully aware of the Commandments for the Sabbath, don't steal, covet, murder etc.; see Grace In The Garden).

The Israelite tribe of Levi was set apart by the LORD as His priesthood (see The Prophecy Of The Blood Upon The Anointed One and When Were The Levites Set Apart?; also Leviticus: The Prophecies Of Christianity). The Levites, specific Levites (see The Levite Clans), alone were responsible for the care and carrying of The Ark - and even then by means of the poles on the sides ("And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it."; see The Ark, The Table and The Lampstand). No one else was permitted to touch The Ark. Those who carelessly or arrogantly ignored the warning to not touch The Ark experienced the LORD's wrath.

The Ark and The Tabernacle were permanently parted in the time of Eli (see The Prophecy Of The House Of Eli). The Philistines captured The Ark after Eli's corrupt sons took it into battle (see The Capture Of The Ark), but the Philistines were soon very eager to return The Ark (see Why Did The Philistines Want To Return The Ark?). Even after it was returned to Israel (see The Return Of The Ark), unauthorized Israelites experienced the same wrath as the Philistines. The Ark was then taken to an authorized place, where it was tended by authorized people.

"6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 6:20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us? 6:21 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you." (1 Samuel 6:19-21 KJV)

"7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. 7:2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD." (1 Samuel 7:1-2 KJV)

The Ark remained there until the time, after the civil war (see The War Between The Houses of David and Saul), when King David made Jerusalem into an Israelite city (see How Long Was Jerusalem The Capital Of Israel?). David then declared "let us bring again the ark of our God to us." The transportation was to be done by authorized Levites - "the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us."

"13:1 And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 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: 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. 13:4 And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people." (1 Chronicles 13:1-4 KJV)

So the day came when they brought "the ark of God from Kirjathjearim."

"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. 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." (1 Chronicles 13:5-6 KJV)

All went well until a man named "Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled." Uzza was not authorized to touch The Ark, so "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."

"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. 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.

13:9 And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. 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.

13:11 And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day." (1 Chronicles 13:7-11 KJV)

David then changed his plan to "bring the ark of God home to me." The Ark no longer had access to the Tabernacle, and no Temple in Jerusalem yet existed, "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." The LORD authorized the placement, so "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."

"13:12 And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? 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. 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." (1 chronicles 13:12-14 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why was there a second set of the Tables of Stone made for The Ten Commandments?
See The Second Tables Of Stone; also Why Did Moses Pitch A Tabernacle Outside The Camp?