Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.
David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in number, to bring the ark of God up to Jerusalem, his city. The gathering was meant to honor the ark as the symbol of the divine presence with great public honor. The gathering became a vast triumphant procession moving with solemn gladness through hills and valleys toward the holy city, with exultant shouts and songs of rejoicing and music on harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and cymbals, such a scene of triumph as Israel had not witnessed for a long time.
The ark was carried on a new cart, contrary to God's instructions for handling it. At Nachon's threshingfloor the oxen shook the ark, Uzzah put forth his hand to steady it, God struck him dead beside the ark, and sudden terror turned the gladness of the throng into grief and mourning. David was astonished and greatly alarmed, questioned the justice of God, felt it unsafe to have the ark near him, and left it at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in number, to bring the ark of God up to Jerusalem, his city. The gathering was meant to honor the ark as the symbol of the divine presence with great public honor. The gathering became a vast triumphant procession moving with solemn gladness through hills and valleys toward the holy city, with exultant shouts and songs of rejoicing and music on harps, psalteries, timbrels, cornets, and cymbals, such a scene of triumph as Israel had not witnessed for a long time.
The ark was carried on a new cart, contrary to God's instructions for handling it. At Nachon's threshingfloor the oxen shook the ark, Uzzah put forth his hand to steady it, God struck him dead beside the ark, and sudden terror turned the gladness of the throng into grief and mourning. David was astonished and greatly alarmed, questioned the justice of God, felt it unsafe to have the ark near him, and left it at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.