“King David assembled all Israel from the Shihor of Egypt to the entrance of Lebo-Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. King David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim, which belongs to Judah. They went there to bring up the ark of God, Yahweh who is enthroned on the cherubim, which is called by his name. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, from the house of Abinadab. Uzzah and Ahio were driving the cart. King David and all Israel were dancing before God with all their might. They had songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.”
In 2 Samuel, chapter 6, King David got about 30,000 chosen Israelites, while here it is the proverbial “all” Israel, which is a euphemism for a lot of people. Shihor was the southern boundary of Israel, while Lebo-Hamath was the northern border in Syria. King David wanted to transport the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. Throughout this story, the ark is not called the Ark of the Covenant but the ark of Yahweh, because it was special to Yahweh. This Ark of the Covenant was in Kiriath-jearim, as in 1 Samuel, chapter 6, where it had been captured by the Philistines. The Ark of the Covenant had been in the house of Abinadab, who is not the slain son of Saul, but a Levite who was entrusted with the ark for over 20 years. His sons Uzzah and Ahio would accompany the Ark of the Covenant on its trip. Here they are the drivers of the ark. Obviously, they put the Ark of the Covenant in a new cart. King David and everyone else were dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 