2 Samuel 6:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God.

NIV: The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

NASB: And the anger of the Lord burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

CSB: Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah, and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there next to the ark of God.

NLT: Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.

KJV: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

NKJV: Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.

A crowd of warriors, elders, and people from all over the nation of Israel have assembled at David's request. They join the celebratory procession of the ark from its extended residence in Baale-judah to its permanent home in Jerusalem. The ark rides on an ox-drawn cart while Uzzah walks alongside it. But when the oxen stumble and the cart jerks, Uzzah holds out his hand to steady the ark. God instantly strikes him dead (2 Samuel 6:1–6; 1 Chronicles 13:5).

It doesn't matter that Uzzah's desire to keep the ark from falling on the ground is good. God kills Uzzah for his irreverence. Uzzah's sin is touching the ark of God (Numbers 4:15). Uzzah is forced into this instinctive act because David and the priests ignored God's instructions (Deuteronomy 10:8). They may have assumed a new cart was "holy enough" by common standards (1 Samuel 6:7–8), but they had not read or obeyed God's commands:

You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it (Exodus 25:12–15, ESV).

At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day (Deuteronomy 10:8, ESV).

God's angry response is appropriate. He had warned the Israelites that touching holy things would bring death (Numbers 4:15), and He had done the same to those in Beth-shemesh when they inappropriately handled the ark (1 Samuel 6:19). David will respond with both anger and fear (2 Samuel 6:8–9).

In 2 Samuel 6:5–11, God judges and blesses. David has called a procession to bring the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem. When the ox cart that carries it wobbles, Uzzah reaches out to steady it, and God strikes him dead for profaning the sacred object. Angry and fearful, David leaves the ark at the home of Obed-edom. When David hears God has been blessing Obed-edom, David recalls the procession, the Levites hand-carry the ark as they should, and the religious and political capitals of Israel are closer to aligning (2 Samuel 6:12–15). This information is also found in 1 Chronicles 13:5–14.

In 2 Samuel 6, David decides to bring the ark of God (Exodus 25:10–22) to Jerusalem. This includes an enormous crowd and a great procession. Unfortunately, he doesn't follow the Mosaic law, and a man dies for inappropriately touching the ark. David leaves the ark at a house for three months before trying again. Moving the symbol of God's presence into the nation's capital delights everyone except David's first wife, Michal. She is disgusted by David's undignified enthusiasm. The same events are noted in 1 Chronicles 13 and 15.

David has established himself as king over all Israel (2 Samuel 5). In 2 Samuel 6, the ark of the covenant reaches Jerusalem. Since its first home in Shiloh, it's been captured by Philistines, sent back home, housed in Kiriath-jearim, carried with the army, and returned to Kiriath-jearim (Joshua 18:1; 1 Samuel 4, 6; 7:1–2; 14:18). David first puts the ark on a cart, but the cart wobbles and God strikes dead the man who tries to save it. Eventually, Levites carry the ark to Jerusalem properly. Soon, David decides that God deserves a proper temple and asks if he can build one (2 Samuel 7).