David gathered thirty thousand chosen Israelites and went to Baalah of Judah, where the ark bearing God’s name was kept. They placed the ark on a new cart, and Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, guided it. David and Israel celebrated before God with harps, lyres, tambourines, and other instruments.
At Nacon’s threshing floor the oxen stumbled. Uzzah reached out to steady the ark, and God struck him there. Uzzah died beside the ark. David was distressed and afraid, and he did not bring the ark into the City of David that day. Instead he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath.
The ark remained there three months, and God blessed Obed-edom’s household and all he owned. When David heard this, he returned joyfully to bring the ark to the city. After those carrying the ark had taken six steps, David sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.
Wearing a linen ephod, David danced before God with all his strength. Israel brought up the ark with shouts and the sound of a trumpet. Michal, Saul’s daughter, watched from a window and despised David in her heart when she saw him leaping before the people.
They set the ark inside the tent David had pitched. David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, blessed the people, and gave each Israelite a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. When he returned home, Michal met him with scorn. David answered that he had celebrated before God who had chosen him, and Michal had no child until the day she died.