And they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove 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.
- KJV And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave 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.
- 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 4:15“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Sam 7:1–2The men of Kiriath Jearim came, and took Yahweh’s ark, and brought it into Abinadab’s house on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep Yahweh’s ark.
- 1 Sam 6:7“Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;
- 1 Chr 15:2Then David said, “No one ought to carry God’s ark but the Levites. For Yahweh has chosen them to carry God’s ark, and to minister to him forever.”
- 1 Chr 15:13For because you didn’t carry it at first, Yahweh our God broke out in anger against us, because we didn’t seek him according to the ordinance.”
- 2 Sam 6:3They set God’s ark on a new cart, and brought it out of Abinadab’s house that was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
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Original language
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