13 One day David consulted with all his leaders—the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. 2 David said to all the assembly of Yisrael, “If it sounds good to you all, and to our god Yahweh, let’s spread out to all our different regions to recruit our relatives, along with the priests and the Levites in the cities of their pasturelands, so they can join us. 3 And let’s return our God’s box back here, because we didn’t use it to ask God for guidance in Shaul’s time.” 4 All the assembled people agreed because everyone could see that it was the right thing to do.

5 So David assembled all Yisrael from Shihor river down in Egypt and as far north as Lebo-Hamat, to bring in God’s chest from Kiriat-Yearim.[ref] 6 Then David and all Yisrael went to Kiriat-Yearim (also known as Baalah, in Yehudah), to bring up from there the box of God Yahweh who sits over the winged creatures. The box is used when calling his name to request help.[ref] 7 They transported God’s box on a new cart from Avinadav’s house, and Uzzah and Ahyo were leading the cart 8 and David and all Yisrael were celebrating in front of God with all their energy, and with songs, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

9 However just as they were passing Kidon’s threshing floor, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the box. 10 That made Yahweh very angry with Uzzah, and he struck him down because he had reached out to touch the box, and he died right there in front of God. 11 That in turn made David angry because Yahweh had burst out against Uzzah, and he named that place Perets-Uzzah (which means ‘outburst against Uzzah’) until this day.

12 David was afraid of God that day and asked himself, “How can I possible bring God’s box to where I am in Yerushalem?” 13 So David gave up on bringing the box to where he was in the city of David, and instead he took it into the nearby house of Oved-Edom the Gittite. 14 So God’s box stayed at Oved-Edom’s house for three months, and Yahweh blessed Oved-Edom’s home and everything that belonged to him.[ref]

6 Then David selected thirty thousand Israeli warriors and gathered them together. 2 He led them to Kiriat-Yearim (formerly called Baalah) in Yehudah to get the box of God (whose name is Yahweh the army commander) who lives between the two winged creatures on the top of it.[ref] 3 They placed the sacred chest on a newly-made cart and started moving it from Abinadab’s house which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahyo (Abinadab’s sons) were leading the cart.[ref] 4 They took it from Abinadab’s house and Ahyo took the lead in front. 5 David and all the Israelis were celebrating in God’s presence with wooden harps and lyres, along with tambourines, shakers, and cymbals.

6 But when they reached Nakon’s threshing floor the oxen stumbled so Uzzah reached out to steady the sacred chest. 7 Yahweh became furious with Uzzah and killed him right there by the sacred chest because he’d touched it. 8 Now David got angry because of Yahweh’s outburst against Uzzah, and that place has been called Perets-Uzzah (meaning ‘The punishment of Uzzah’) until today. 9 David was afraid of Yahweh that day and asked, “How will Yahweh’s box get to Yerushalem?” 10 So he decided not to take Yahweh’s box there and redirected it instead to the house of Obed-Edom (a Gittite). 11 The sacred chest stayed at Obed-Edom’s house for three months, and Yahweh blessed him and all the household.[ref]