David Fetches the Ark
(1 Chronicles 13:1–7)

1David (beloved) again assembled the chosen men of Israel (he wrestles with God), thirty thousand in all. 2And he (beloved) and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah (Kiriath-jearim)a to bring up from there the ark of God {Elohim}, which is called by the Name—b the name of the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it.

3They set the ark of God {Elohim} on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab (my father is willing), which was on the hill. Uzzah (strength) and Ahio (brotherly), the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, 4bringing with it the ark of God {Elohim} (my father is willing) [from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill].c And Ahio (brotherly) was walking in front of the ark.

Uzzah Touches the Ark
(1 Chronicles 13:8–14)

5David (beloved) and all the house of Israel (he wrestles with God) were celebrating before the LORD {YHWH} with all kinds of wood instruments \before the LORD with all woods of cypress/,d harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals.

6When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon (Chidon),e Uzzah (strength) reached out and took hold of the ark of God {Elohim}, because the oxen had stumbled. 7And the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Uzzah (strength), and God {Elohim} struck him down on the spot for his irreverence [for this],f and he died there beside the ark of God.

8Then David (beloved) became angry because the LORD {YHWH} had burst forth against Uzzah (strength). So he named that place Perez-uzzah (breach of Uzza),g as it is called to this day.

9That day David (beloved) feared the LORD {YHWH} and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 10So he (beloved) was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD {YHWH} to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom (servant of Edom) the Gittite (belonging to Gath). 11Thus the ark of the LORD {YHWH} remained in the house of Obed-edom (servant of Edom) the Gittite (belonging to Gath) for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household.

The Ark Brought to Jerusalem
(1 Chronicles 15:1–28)

12Now it was reported to King David (beloved), “The LORD {YHWH} has blessed the house of Obed-edom (servant of Edom) and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God {Elohim}.”

So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. 13When those carrying the ark of the LORD {YHWH} had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

14And David (beloved), wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD {YHWH}, 15while he (beloved) and all the house of Israel (he wrestles with God) brought up the ark of the LORD {YHWH} with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn.

Michal’s Contempt for David
(1 Chronicles 15:29–16:3)

16As the ark of the LORD {YHWH} was entering the City of David (beloved), Saul’s (desired) daughter Michal (who is like God) looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart.

17So they brought the ark of the LORD {YHWH} and set it in its place inside the tent that David (beloved) had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

18When David (beloved) had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts. 19Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel (he wrestles with God) a loaf of bread, a date cake (a portion of meat),h and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.

20When David (beloved) returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s (desired) daughter Michal (who is like God) came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel (he wrestles with God) has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.”

21But David (beloved) said to Michal (who is like God), “I was dancing before the LORD {YHWH}, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel (he wrestles with God). I will celebrate before the LORD, 22and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.”

23And Michal (who is like God) the daughter of Saul (desired) had no children to the day of her death.