David’s first attempt to return the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem ends at Chidon’s threshing floor, where God struck Uzza dead for touching the Ark, and a king who began in celebration left in fear.

Full sung version coming soon.

Lyrics

David consulted with the captains of thousands And of hundreds, even with every leader Let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again

For we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul All the assembly said that they would do so For the thing was right in the eyes of all the people So David assembled all Israel together To bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim

David went up with all Israel to Baalah To bring up from there God the Lord’s ark That sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name They carried God’s ark on a new cart And brought it out of Abinadab’s house

Uzza and Ahio drove the cart David and all Israel played before God with all their might Even with songs, with harps, with stringed instruments With tambourines, with cymbals, and with trumpets

When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark The oxen stumbled and the hand reached out But the Lord’s anger burnt against Uzza

He struck him because he put his hand on the ark And he died there before God In a moment the joy turned to fear David was displeased, because the Lord had broken out Against Uzza, and he called that place Perez Uzza

David was afraid of God that day Saying, How can I bring God’s ark home to me The sacred thing was too dangerous to touch The death came swift and terrible The lesson was written in blood

So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city But carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house God’s ark remained with the family of Obed-Edom In his house three months And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom’s house and all that he had

The ark remained in the house The lesson learned in sorrow The way forward lay uncertain The fear of the Lord was upon them all

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1 Chronicles 13 sung by Psalm Selah. The whole Bible, one chapter at a time.

Published 2026-05-22 · Last updated 2026-06-06
Written by Reid Wender, Editorial Director at Psalmody Press