Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

David gathered the leaders of thousands and hundreds, along with every leader from Israel, and said to them, "If this seems good to you and is what God our Lord wants, let us send word everywhere in Israel to our remaining brothers who live with the priests and Levites in their cities and suburbs. Let's bring back the ark of our God since we didn't consult it during Saul's time.

The entire assembly agreed, and David thought it was the right thing to do. He assembled all of Israel from Shihor of Egypt to Hamath's entrance to retrieve the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. David went with all of Israel to Baalah, also known as Kiriath Jearim in Judah, to bring up the ark of God – the Lord who dwells between the cherubim and bears His Name.

They carried the ark of God on a new cart from Abinadab's house, with Uzza and Ahio driving it. David and all Israel celebrated before God with singing, harps, psalteries, timbrels, cymbals, and trumpets as they went.

As they reached Chidon's threshing floor, the oxen stumbled, and Uzza tried to steady the ark. But the Lord's anger flared up against Uzza because he touched the ark; there Uzza died in God's presence.

David was displeased that the Lord had struck down Uzza, so he called that place Perez Uzza – a name it still has today. David feared God on that day and wondered, "How can I bring the ark of God into my city?"

The ark of God stayed with Obededom's family in their house for three months. The Lord blessed Obededom and his entire household.