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Historical Books · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

1 Chronicles 13

Israel's story retold through genealogy, David, worship, and preparation for the temple.

Old Testament

1 Chronicles 13

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

2David 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.

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

4All 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 River of Egypt even to the entrance of Hamath, to bring God’s ark from Kiriath Jearim.

6David 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.

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

8David 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.

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

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

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

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

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

14God’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.

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Israel's story retold through genealogy, David, worship, and preparation for the temple. Read 1 Chronicles 13 within the complete 1 Chronicles overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in 1 Chronicles 13

1 Chronicles 13 contains 14 verses and about 350 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: “David consulted with the captains of thousands and of hundreds, even with every leader.” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 14 closes: “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.” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include david, israel, uzza, bring, god’s, house. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About 1 Chronicles 13

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, 1 Chronicles 13:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer