· Translation: KJV

1 Chronicles 13:9When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

The setting

Near Jerusalem, Israel ~1000 BC. A cart carrying Israel's most sacred object hits a bump. Oxen stumble. The golden Ark of the Covenant starts sliding toward disaster.

The emotion here: recording a moment of national celebration turning tragic

The original word

naga (נגע) — to touch, strike, reach. Used for both contact and plague judgment

Why it matters

The Ark weighed approximately 250 pounds and was covered in solid gold

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Chronicles 13:9

This was the WRONG way to transport the Ark — it should have been carried on poles by Levites, not on a cart

Common misconceptionMost think Uzza was punished for being helpful. Actually, David had violated God's clear instructions about how to move the Ark — Uzza's death revealed the entire operation was done wrong.

Bible Genome reading

1 Chronicles 13:9 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
EraUnited Kingdom
Primary emotionanxious
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power10%
Quotability30%
Memorability60%
Crisis relevance80%
Standalone30%
Themes:crisisintervention

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Chronicles 13

1 Chronicles 13:9 comes from the book of 1 Chronicles, written during the United Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include crisis, intervention. Notable phrases: oxen stumbled; Uzza put forth his hand.

Your reflection

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