And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:1-2This was before Saul was made king.
And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him [Saul] whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. 1 Samuel 10:24
And David arose ... to bring up from thence the ark of God.... And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah.... 2 Samuel 6:2-3Saul (David's predecessor) was king for 40 years.
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. Acts.13:21
So the ark must have been at Abinadab's house for more than 40 years, since it was taken to Abinadab's house before Saul became king and remained there until David succeeded him.
