Commentari biblici

Again, David gathered together all [the] chosen [men] of Israel, thirty thousand.

Again, David gathered. — That is the second time 1 Chronicles 13:1 ; 1 Chronicles 13:5 after that their first consultation about the bringing of the ark to Jerusalem had been interrupted by the invasion of the Philistines. Reformation ever meeteth with opposition. David was no sooner settled in his kingdom, but he thinks of settling religion and God’s sincere service: which popular men should esteem as silver, noblemen as gold, princes prize as pearls, as Aeneas Sylvius was wont to say of learning.

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And David arose, and went with all the people that [were] with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth [between] the cherubims.

From Baale of Judah. — Called also Kirjathbaal, Joshua 15:60 and Kirjathjearim. 1 Chronicles 13:6

To bring up from thence the ark of God. — Which in Saul’s days had been slighted; and was now haply less regarded, because in a private house.

That dwelleth between the cherabims. — By the presence not only of his grace, but of his glory also upon earth.

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And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

And they set the ark of God upon a new cart. — After the example of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 6:7 but not after God’s command. Numbers 4:15 ; Numbers 7:9 It was no good that Israelites could learn of Philistines: and that which God will take from Philistines he will not brook from Israel. The staff rings that were upon the ark might have minded the Kohathites of their duty; but it may be that they thought it was a long way from Kirjathjearim to Jerusalem, and were willing to be eased of the burden.

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And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which [was] at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab. — Where it had been more than forty years. See 1 Samuel 7:1 .

Which was at Gibeah. — Or, On the hill in Kirjathjearim.

And Ahio went before the ark, — sc., To drive the oxen, as Uzzah came behind it, ut observaret ne illa de plaustro decideret, Piscator. to take care that the ark fell not out.

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And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of [instruments made of] fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

Played before the Lord. — According to the custom of that country, and the condition of those times.

Before the Lord, — i.e., Before the ark, which is called God’s face; Psalms 105:4 yea, God himself. Psalms 132:5

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And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth [his hand] to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook [it].

Uzzah put forth his hand. — He was a good man, it is thought, and did this of a good intention, but without warrant of the word. It must be men’s care "that their deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God." John 3:21 Two things make a good Christian - good actions and good aims. A good aim maketh not a bad action good, as here: and yet a bad aim maketh a good action bad, as we see in Jehu.

For the oxen shook it. — Or, Stumbled, and had like to have tumbled the ark down, - compare 2 Kings 9:33 , - the dumb beasts admonishing them of their error, as once the ass did Balaam.

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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.

And the anger of the Lord was kindled. — For he will not take up with a careless and slubbered service: he "will be sanctified in all those that draw near unto him." Leviticus 10:3

And God smote him there for his error. — Smote the breath out of his body: the Rabbis say it was done by rending his arm from his shoulder: that it was by a rent or rupture, may be gathered from the name given thereupon to the place Perez Uzza, or the Breach of Uzza. Ipso in officio inofficiosus fuit qui iniussa praesumpsit, saith Salvian. Lib. vi., De Provid. He was too officious, and therein inofficious; this was his error, his factum imprudens, as Tremellius rendereth it. See Numbers 4:15 . Satan, who loveth to be God’s ape, told the heathens that Ilus Palladium ex incendio eripiens, dum arderet Templum Minervae, luminibus privatus est. Plutarch. Parallel. Ilus, whilst he snatched the image of their goddess Minerva out of her burning temple, lost his eyes.

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And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day.

And David was displeased, — Et exarsit Davidi, sc., nasus; quae est descriptio irae. - Pisc. He was in a pet, in a passion, in a fit of discontent, if he could have told at whom or at what: and how untowardly spake he, as if the fault were more in God than in himself! Dogs in a chase bark at their own masters sometimes. It troubled David that all the people’s joy should be so suddenly dashed and damped with this sad disaster; and he had somewhat to do to strike sail and stoop.

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