2 Samuel 6:7

2 Samuel 6:7

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.

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. YLT: and the anger of Jehovah burneth against Uzzah, and God smiteth him there for the error, and he dieth there by the ark of God.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for touching the ark, and he died there by the ark of God.

e. Septuagint: And the Lord was very angry with Oza; and God smote him there: and he died there by the ark of the Lord before God.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: HASHEM became  angry at Uzzah and God struck him there for the blunder; and Uzzah died there by the Ark of God.

1. “And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah…”

a. the anger [639 * ‘aph] [Gesenius: nostril, nose, face, anger.] [Strong: properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire:--anger(-gry), + before, countenance, face, + forebearing, forehead, + (long-)suffering, nose, nostril, snout, X worthy, wrath.]

b. the LORD [3068 * Yhovah] [Strong: from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

c. was kindled [2734 * charah] [Strong: a primitive root (Compare 2787); to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy:--be angry, burn, be displeased, X earnestly, fret self, grieve, be (wax) hot, be incensed, kindle, X very, be wroth.]

d. against Uzzah [5798 * `Uzza'; or Uzzah] [Strong: feminine of 5797; strength; Uzza or Uzzah, the name of five Israelites:--Uzza, Uzzah.]

1). Our natural minds wonder why God would be angry at Uzzah. The oxen transporting the Ark stumbled and it appeared the Ark was going to fall so Uzzah put his hand on the Ark to steady it. The truth is this whole thing would have been avoided if they had just searched the Scriptures about how the Ark was to be transported. More on that later.

2. “…and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”

a. and God [430 * 'elohiym] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

b. smote him [5221 * nakah] [Strong: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively):--beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), X go forward, X indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, X surely, wound.]

c. for his error [7944 * shal] [Strong: from 7952 abbrev.; a fault:--error.] [AMG: sin, error. It is used only once in the OT, 2 Samuel 6:7, but from its usage, we can gain insight that the error is a great one. The context is that of Uzzah, whom God struck down because he touched the ark: this error cost him his life. This word has strong connotations of a great sin or error deserving of death.] [Gesenius: error, fault meaning uncertain.]

d. there he died [4191 * muwth] [Strong: a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.]

e. by the ark [727 * 'arown; or laron] [Strong: from 717 (in the sense of gathering); a box:--ark, chest, coffin.]

f. of God [430 * 'elohiym] [Strong: plural of 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative:--angels, X exceeding, God (gods)(-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.]

1). As we shall see in the various comments below, it is assumed by some that Uzzah was a Levite but some do not hold that assumption.  

a). Geneva Bible Notes: Here we see the danger it is to follow good intentions, or to do anything in God's service without his express word.

b). Annodated Bible Notes: If, as seems probable, Uzzah was a Levite, he ought to have remembered that he was forbidden to touch anything but the staves by which the ark was carried. The neglect of express Divine directions is sinful, and therefore dangerous.

c). The reference is to the directions given in Numbers, how that the Priests are to disassemble the Tabernacle and cover the articles of furniture so that no one can see them. Then the articles of furniture were to be carried with staves by specific families of Levites, but the Levites themselves were not allowed to see or touch the articles of furniture.

(1) Numbers 4:15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

d). British Family Bible: [Stackhouse] Or, for his rashness, in touching the ark: his error consisted, 1st, in not carrying the ark upon his shoulders, together with his brethren. 2nd, in touching it, which he ought not so much as to have seen: the priests were to cover it, and the Levites to take hold of the staves, for the purpose of carrying it, Nu 4:15. (Uzzah was a Levite, being the brother of Eleazar, who was consecrated to the office of a Levite, 1Sa 7:1,)…]

e). British Family Bible: [Dr. John Ward] Although it was the office of the Kohathites of the tribe of Levi to carry the ark upon their shoulders, Nu 7:9; 2Ch 35:3; yet it was death for them to touch it, Nu 4:15. Uzzah therefore, although he was probably a Levite, acted contrary to an express law in touching the ark.

f). Matthew Poole’s Commentary: For his touching the ark, when he was no Levite, as Josephus reports; nor indeed was Kirjath-jearim a Levitical city; or, that being but a Levite, he touched the bare ark, which only the priests might do, Nu 4:15; 18:3.

2). My opinion is we don’t know for sure if this family was from the lineage of Aaron, i.e., a priestly lineage or not, but I believe it was. I have to believe that the men of Israel would have the spiritual sense to know this. This is the reason I assume that in the text of 1 Samuel 7:1 that the men of Kirjath-jearim had the spiritual sense to choose a Levitical family.

a). 1 Samuel 7:1 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.

3). Comparative passage.

a). 1 Chronicles 13:10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.