Prosperous Reign of David
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God instructed David: “Thou shalt not go up; but ... come upon
them over against the mulberry trees. And ... when thou hearest the
sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, ... then thou shalt
bestir thyself: for then shalt the Lord go out before thee, to smite
the host of the Philistines.” If David, like Saul, had chosen his own
way, success would not have attended him. But he did as the Lord
commanded, and he “smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon
even to Gezer. And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the
Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.”
1 Chronicles 14:16, 17
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Ark Returned to Jerusalem
Now that David was established on the throne, he turned to accom-
plish a cherished purpose—to bring up the ark of God to Jerusalem.
It was fitting that the capital of the nation should be honored with the
token of the divine Presence.
David’s purpose was to make the occasion a scene of great rejoicing
and imposing display. The people responded gladly. The high priest
and the princes and leading men of the tribes assembled at Kirjath-
jearim. David was aglow with holy zeal. The ark was brought out
from the house of Abinadab and placed upon a new cart drawn by
oxen, while two of the sons of Abinadab attended it.
The men of Israel followed with shouts and songs of rejoicing,
a multitude of voices joining in melody with the sound of musical
instruments. “David and the house of Israel played before the Lord ...
on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on
cymbals.” With solemn gladness the vast procession wound its way
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along the hills and valleys toward the Holy City.
But “when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put forth
his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook
it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God
smote him there for his rashness [marginal reading]; and there he died
by the ark of God.” Terror fell on the rejoicing throng. David was
greatly alarmed, and in his heart questioned the justice of God. Why
had that fearful judgment been sent to turn gladness into grief and
mourning? Feeling that it would be unsafe to have the ark near him,
David determined to let it remain where it was. A place was found for
it nearby, at the house of Obed-edom.