1 Chronicles Chapter 13

Other Translations

lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

1 And David took counsel with the captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, [even with] every commander.

2 And David said to the whole congregation of Israel, If it [seem] good to you, and it should be prospered by the Lord our God, let us send to our brethren that are left in all the land of Israel, and let the priests the Levites who are with them in the cities of their possession [come], and let them be gathered to us.

3 And let us bring over to us the ark of our God; for men have not enquired [at] it since the days of Saul.

4 And all the congregation said that they would do thus; for the saying was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 So David assembled all Israel, from the borders of Egypt even to the entering in of Hemath, to bring in the ark of God from the city of Jarim.

6 And David brought it up: and all Israel went up to the city of David, which belonged to Juda, to bring up thence the ark of the Lord God who sits between the cherubim, whose name is called [on it].

7 And they set the ark of God on a new waggon [brought] out of the house of Aminadab: and Oza and his brethren drove the waggon.

8 And David and all Israel [were] playing before the Lord with all their might, and [that] together with singers, and with harps, and with lutes, with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.

9 And they came as far as the threshing-floor: and Oza put forth his hand to hold the ark, because the bullock moved it from [its place].

10 And the Lord was very angry with Oza, and smote him there, because of his stretching forth his hand upon the ark: and he died there before God.

11 And David was dispirited, because the Lord [had] made a breach on Oza: and he called that place the Breach of Oza until this day.

12 And David feared God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God in to myself?

13 So David brought not the ark home to himself into the city of David, but he turned it aside into the house of Abeddara the Gethite.

14 And the ark of God abode in the house of Abeddara three months: and God blessed Abeddara and all that he had.

web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

1 David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.

2 David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let’s send word everywhere to our brothers who are left in all the land of Israel, with whom the priests and Levites are in their cities that have pasture lands, that they may gather themselves to us.

3 Also, let’s bring the ark of our God back to us again, for we didn’t seek it in the days of Saul.”

4 All the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

6 David went up with all Israel to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there God the LORD’s ark that sits above the cherubim, that is called by the Name.

7 They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

8 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.

9 When they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.

10 The LORD’s anger burned against Uzza, and he struck him because he put his hand on the ark; and he died there before God.

11 David was displeased, because the LORD had broken out against Uzza. He called that place Perez Uzza, to this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring God’s ark home to me?”

13 So David didn’t move the ark with him into David’s city, but carried it aside into Obed-Edom the Gittite’s house.

14 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.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!

Explain Like I'm 10

Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).