Page 223 - Bible History

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196 GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE UNDER KINGS
broken. Later they undertook two other campaigns against David.
2. THE ARK OF THE CovENANT Is BROUGHT TO JERUSALEM
The religion of the Israelites was the basis of their unity. Samuel had told them that as long as they sacri ced to the Lord before the Tabernacle, they would not need a king to keep them together.
Now, in order to attach the people to himself and : to his capital, David decided to bring the Ark of the on n Covenant to Mount Sion. After its return from the Philistines many years before, the Ark had been left at the house of Abinadab, at Cariathiarim. Guarded by thirty thousand chosen men, the Ark was placed upon a new cart drawn by oxen, and David and the people formed a procession before it, singing and play­ ing on musical instruments. The two sons of Abina­ dab, whose names were Oza and Ahio, drove the cart. The procession had gone a great distance, when sud­ denly one of the oxen kicked up his heels and the Ark was in danger of falling o the cart. Oza put his hand on the Ark to steady it. Now, no one was per­ mitted to touch the Ark except the priests. Because of this act of irreverence, Oza was struck dead on the spot. Seeing this, David feared to proceed any far­ ther with the Ark and left it at the house of a Levite. God blessed the Levite in whose house the Ark rested. Hearing of this, David, after three months,
decided to bring the Ark to the Holy City. He brought . with him seven choirs of singers and many calves for
TheArk