Uzza Dies from Touching the Ark

1Then David took counsel with the commanders of the thousands and the hundreds, even with every leader. 2And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is from Yahweh our God, let us send everywhere to our relatives who remain in all the lands of Israel, also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their cities with pasture lands, that they may gather with us; 3and let us bring back the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” 4Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor of Egypt even to [†]Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, Yahweh, who is enthroned above the cherubim, where His name is called. 7And they drove the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio were leading the cart. 8Now David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their strength, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and with trumpets.

9Then they came to the threshing floor of Chidon. And Uzza reached out with his hand to take hold of the ark, because the oxen nearly upset it. 10And the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzza, and He struck him down because he reached out with his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. 11And David became angry because [†]of Yahweh’s breaking out against Uzza; and that place is called [†]Perez-uzza to this day. 12So David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God back to me?” 13And David did not move the ark with him to the city of David, but took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 14Thus the ark of God remained with the household of Obed-edom in his house three months; and Yahweh blessed the household of Obed-edom with all that he had.