The opening four verses of this chapter record the decision to recover the lost ark at Kiriath-jearim and bring it back to Jerusalem. They introduce the eventual return of the ark to Jerusalem. The latter portion of this literary unit describes the journey of the ark from the house of Abinadab of Kiriath-jearim (or Baalah) to the threshing floor of Chidon (1 Chronicles 13:5–14). This account of the transfer of the ark is taken from 2 Samuel 6:2–11, with some variation.
The ark had been captured by the Philistines in battle. Israel had carried it with them into battle, foolishly thinking that its physical presence with them would harness the power of God in their favour (1 Samuel 4:1–4). Inevitably it was captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:11); God’s presence with his people, the One whom heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain (1 Kings 8:27), cannot be limited to a wooden box. To treat the ark of God’s presence as a form of lucky charm is tantamount to acting in superstition and not in the faith of the Almighty. But after capturing the ark, things did not go well for the Philistines; its presence among them brought about a great deal of suffering in the form of a dreadful plague. The Lord will not have his ark treated as a mascot in battle, but neither will he tolerate its being abused by heathens. The Philistines sent it back, whereupon it was accepted by the people of Kiriath-jearim, an obscure village a few miles west of Jerusalem, where it had remained untended during Saul’s reign.1
There was the constant danger of Israel's misunderstanding the significance of the ark in their midst. The reality that God dwelt above the cherubim lent itself to the tendency to think that he could be manipulated and was at the disposal of his people, rather than that they should worship and serve him.
For this reason, the Old Testament in certain places makes it quite clear that God is not confined to where the ark is located, but that the sanctuary is the place where he has chosen to put his name (for example, Deuteronomy 12:5; Deuteronomy 16:2; Deuteronomy 26:2) to stress that God himself is not contained there. Deuteronomy also emphasizes that there is nothing magical about the ark and that of itself, it is simply a wooden box containing the tablets of the law (Deuteronomy 10:1–5).
On the one hand, the ark is called by the name of God by his own insistence, because there is nothing in the universe that can contain him (2 Chronicles 6:10, 2 Chronicles 6:18). On the other hand, he does sit enthroned between the cherubim
(Psalm 80:1; 1 Kings 19:15) and so his presence in some sense remains.
The ark of the covenant was a box built out of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, measuring 2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5 cubits (130 x 80 x 80 cm / 4 ft. x 2.5 ft. x 2.5 ft.). The ark contained the two tables of the law as given by God to Moses, as well as a pot of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded (Numbers 17:10; 1 Kings 8:9; Hebrews 9:4–5). On top of the ark was the lid, called the mercy seat or atonement lid, with a cherub located on each end with outstretched wings. The glory of God’s presence (Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 16:2), the cloud by day and the column of fire by night, dwelt above the cherubim, symbolizing the throne of God among his people. The entire arrangement of the earthly tabernacle was a copy of the heavenly realities (Hebrews 8:5). The box was to be carried using two long poles by priests specially appointed for the task.
This account contrasts David’s joy at the beginning with his distress at the close. Nevertheless, there is a twofold ray of hope shining through at the end of the chapter. After the tragedy of the Uzziah incident, the ark was taken to the house of Obed-edom for safekeeping, with the result that the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and all that he had
(1 Chronicles 13:14), as well granting success to David in battle against the Philistines, thereby boosting his reputation, which caused the nations to fear him greatly (1 Chronicles 14:16–17).
1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader.