And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.
Parallel translations
- WEB They carried God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house; and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
- BSB So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart.
- NKJV So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
- NASB And they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
- NLT They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They carried the ark on a new cart driven by Uzza and Ahio, rather than on Levites' shoulders as the Law required. This well-meaning but disobedient method sets up the tragedy that follows.
Overview
The ark was placed on a new cart, mirroring the Philistine method (1 Samuel 6) rather than God's command that Levites carry it by poles on their shoulders (Numbers 4; Exodus 25). Though sincerely intended to honor God, this departure from His revealed instruction was a serious error. The Chronicler thus shows that zeal must be matched by obedience; God is to be worshiped in the way He prescribes, not as we see fit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Num 4:15And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.
- 1 Sam 7:1–2And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
- 1 Sam 6:7Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:
- 1 Chr 15:2Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever.
- 1 Chr 15:13For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
- 2 Sam 6:3And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
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