Chidon, the Threshing-floor of
The Incident at the Threshing Floor
The threshing floor of Chidon is remembered for one of the most dramatic and sobering events in Israel's history. When King David attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Abinadab to Jerusalem, the oxen pulling the cart stumbled at this location. Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the ark, and God struck him dead on the spot (1 Chronicles 13:9-10). This event halted the procession and profoundly affected David, who was both angry and afraid.
Two Names for One Place
The parallel accounts in 1 Chronicles 13:9 and 2 Samuel 6:6 give different names for this threshing floor. Chronicles calls it Chidon, while Samuel calls it Nachon (or Nacon). This discrepancy likely reflects different manuscript traditions or local naming conventions. Neither name has been identified with a known archaeological site, and the exact location between Kiriath-jearim and Jerusalem remains uncertain.
David's Response
The death of Uzzah left David deeply shaken. He named the place Perez-uzzah, meaning "the breaking out against Uzzah" (1 Chronicles 13:11). Unable to continue, David diverted the ark to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite, where it remained for three months (1 Chronicles 13:13-14). During that time, God blessed Obed-edom's household, which eventually encouraged David to attempt the transfer again, this time following proper procedures.
The Lesson of Proper Worship
The tragedy at Chidon's threshing floor became a defining lesson for Israel about approaching God with reverence. David later acknowledged that the disaster occurred because they had not sought God "according to the rule" (1 Chronicles 15:13). The ark was meant to be carried by Levites using poles through its rings (Exodus 25:14-15), not transported on a cart in the manner of the Philistines (1 Samuel 6:7-8). When David finally brought the ark to Jerusalem successfully, he ensured the Levites carried it properly (1 Chronicles 15:15).
Threshing Floors in Biblical Culture
Threshing floors held special significance in ancient Israel. These flat, open-air areas were used for separating grain from chaff and often served as places of community gathering and even divine encounter. The threshing floor of Araunah (or Ornan) became the site of Solomon's temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). That a threshing floor was the setting for this pivotal moment adds to the pattern of threshing floors as places where God's purposes were revealed.
Biblical Context
The threshing floor of Chidon appears in 1 Chronicles 13:9 during the narrative of David's first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The parallel account in 2 Samuel 6:6 calls it the threshing floor of Nachon. It is the site of Uzzah's death and David's subsequent abandonment of the transport.
Theological Significance
This location teaches about the holiness of God and the importance of approaching Him according to His prescribed ways. The incident demonstrates that good intentions do not override God's explicit commands regarding worship and sacred objects. It foreshadows the New Testament teaching that access to God must come through the appointed means.
Historical Background
No archaeological site has been identified with the threshing floor of Chidon or Nachon. The location was somewhere along the route from Kiriath-jearim (modern Tell el-Azhar or Deir el-Azhar) to Jerusalem. Threshing floors in the ancient Near East were typically flat, elevated areas exposed to wind, often located near village entrances.