1 Chronicles 13:13

1Ch 13:13 So David brought not the ark [home] to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

1Ch 13:14 And the ark of God remained with the family of Obededom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obededom, and all that he had.

Ver. 13,14. {See Trapp on "1Ch 13:12"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ch_13:13

But carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom

The asides of God

How much we owe to the asides of God.

Obed-edom owed the benediction which descended upon his house to this aside. Gods way through life is thus wondrous: always indeed one great line of progress, yet who can count the detours which He makes, the asides, the incidental variations, the small things which men regarded as unworthy of notice,--who can tell how all these are wrought up into a comprehensive revelation of wisdom and love. If we only took the things which came to us on the great main thoroughfares of life, some people would hardly be blessed at all. A study of the asides of life would confirm us in our general Christian faith. (J. Parker, D. D.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Who was a Levite, and called Gittite, because he had dwelt at Gath.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(13) Brought not . . . home.—A different verb from that in 1Ch_13:12. Literally, And David caused not the ark to turn aside unto himself. Slightly abridged. (See Samuel.)

Obed-edom the Gittite.—As, according to 1Ch_26:1-4, Obed-edom was a Korhitic Levite, the term “Gittite” is generally assumed to mean native of Gathrimmon, a Levitical township (Jos_21:24) belonging to the great clan of Kohath, which was charged with the carriage of the Ark, and of which Obed-edom was a member (Num_4:15).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13. David brought not] R.V. David removed not.

Obed-edom the Gittite] As Gittite means man of Gath, Obed-edom was doubtless of Philistine origin; perhaps he attached himself to David during David’s sojourn among the Philistines. In 1Ch_15:18; 1Ch_15:24; 1Ch_16:38 an Obed-edom is mentioned who was a Levite and a porter (doorkeeper) for the ark, but the Chronicler does not identify him with the Gittite of the same name.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Obededom. A Levite was judged more proper to guard the ark, chap. xv. 18. --- Gethite. Because he had dwelt in Geth. (Worthington)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Obed-edom the Gittite. That Obed-edom is called "the Gittite," i.e. of Gath-rimmon, a Levite city of Dan, (Jos_21:24) might probably indicate that there was another Obed-edom, from whom to distinguish him. Such a one would appear readily to offer in the name of Obed-edom, son of Jeduthun, a "Merarite Levite". (1Ch_15:18-24 1Ch_16:5, 38 26:4-15) But the difficulty occurs that an expression in this last quotation seems to identify him with the Obed-edom of 2Sa_6:11; and the last sentence of our next verse. If they are one and the same, it has been suggested that marriage might account for the Merarite living in a Kohathite city. (see "Speaker"s Commentary" on 2Sa_6:10)

Vers. 13, 14.

Superstitious error and religious truth.

We must take care to read these verses intelligently, or we may misread them altogether. It is possible to draw from them a conclusion which is not in accordance with the mind of God. There is

I A SUPERSTITIOUS ERROR AGAINST WHICH TO GUARD. It would be a great mistake to suppose that the mere fact of the presence of the ark in the house ensured prosperity; or that, similarly, the mere presence of sacred rites or persons will now command the favouring regard of God. That there was something more than this in the case of Obed-edom is proved by the facts:

1. That the presence of the ark in the midst of the Philistines proved to bedisastrous. (1Sa 5)

2. That the presence of the ark in the camp of the Israelites proved to befruitless of help. (1Sa 4)

3. That the ark was nothing more in itself than a box of wood, and, apartfrom God"s determination to bless, could not possibly effect anything at all.

4. That to trust in a thing manufactured of man and not in the living Godhimself would partake of the idolatrous. (see 2Ki_18:4) If we cherish the idea that, because we are connected by blood (or in any other way) with sacred persons, or that because we have much to do officially with sacred things, with the utterance of sacred words, or the performance of sacred rites, or the care of sacred buildings, therefore it will be well with us in the books of heaven, we are only harbouring a fiction, we are leaning on a brittle reed, we are building the house of our hope upon the sand.

II THE RELIGIOUS TRUTH TO BE RECEIVED AND WELCOMED. God blessed the house of Obed-edom because he cheerfully and reverently made room for the sacred chest. His act was one of simple piety, rendered in an hour of need and offered devoutly, intelligently unto God; therefore God "blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had." It was the mark of God"s approval of a service rightly and worthily rendered. The truth for us to gather is that Gods abidingfavour is the one sure source of blessedness. If God be "with us," i.e. for us, on our side, who or what can be against us? "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Those who, in constructing their life, leave God"s favour out of the account, make a fundamental and fatal error. Those who go on the principle that his Divine favour will secure true prosperity are proceeding along the lilies of truth. Let every man be discontented and disturbed in soul until he has first made sure of the abiding approval of the Most High. Till then it will be wrong with him and with all that he has; when that is gained, all is well with him and his. But how is this approval to be secured?

1. By doing the one thing which God demands of all his children now.This, first of all and most of all, is the work or the will of God, that we "believe on the Name of his Son Jesus Christ," etc. (see Joh_6:29; 1Jn_3:23) The acceptance of Christ as our personal Saviour and Lord is the way to secure the abiding favour of the Father of all. Having thus gained his Divine regard, we must continue therein.

2. By striving to be and to do all those things in all our relations which arepleasing in his sight. (see Php_4:8; Col_3:17, Col_3:23) Among many other ways of pleasing Christ, we may win his approving smile in the particular way suggested in the text.

3. By showing special attention to that with which, and to those withwhom, he is specially connected his house and his disciples. C.

Vers. 13, 14.

The ark in the house of Obed-edom.

The ark was in the house of Obed-edom three months, and "the Lord blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that he had." Why was this? Obed-edom was a Levite. He had been prepared of God to minister before it. None but a prepared heart can enjoy Christ. The ark was at home with Obed-edom, and he with it. So it is always with Christ and his people. But God not only blessed Obed-edom and his family; the significant words are added, and all that he had. " Everything went right with Obed-edom, in his house, his family, his duties, his joys, and his sorrows, because the ark was there. What a lesson! Reader, why do things not go right with you? Because Christ has not his right place in your heart, in your affections, in your home, in your duties, and in all you have. Let Christ be in all, and then it cannot but be with you as it was with Obed-edom, "the Lord blessed his house, and all that he had. W.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the Gittite He was from Gath originally and he previously sojourned in Gath. He was a Levite, as it is written (below 15:16): “And David said to the officers of the Levites to station their brethren, the singers,” and it says shortly after (verse 24): “... and Obed-Edom and Jehiah were gate sentries for the Ark.”

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.