2 Samuel 6:6
ESV
And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
NIV
When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled.
NASB
But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen nearly overturned it.
CSB
When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it because the oxen had stumbled.
NLT
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God.
KJV
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.
NKJV
And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
What does 2 Samuel 6:6 mean?
David has built his house in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:6–12), and he wants the ark of the covenant nearby. When Samuel was young, Eli's sons took the ark into war, the Philistines stole it, God judged the Philistines, and they sent it back (1 Samuel 4:4, 11; 6:1–18). Since then, it's been in Baale-judah or traveling with Saul (1 Samuel 6:18–21; 14:18).David consults the military, the people, and God, and they all approve of his plan (1 Chronicles 13:1–4). Unfortunately, he doesn't consult the Mosaic law. God was clear that the ark may only be transported by Levites, carrying it by its poles (Deuteronomy 10:8). Instead, David puts it on an ox-drawn cart. Uzzah walks beside it while his brother leads the cart (2 Samuel 6:3–4). The procession reaches the threshing floor of Nacon (2 Samuel 6:5).
Scholars don't know exactly where Nacon's threshing floor stood, but they believe it and Obed-edom the Gittite's home (2 Samuel 6:10) are close to Jerusalem. As they arrive, the oxen stumble. Uzzah reaches out to steady the ark and keep it from falling. It's the last thing he does.
Since Moses placed the tablets of the covenant inside, no one had permission to touch the ark (Exodus 25:16). Only Levites can carry it by hand (Deuteronomy 10:8). David's men sinned by placing it on a cart, but Uzzah sins most by touching it. God strikes him dead.
David, both angry and distressed, halts the celebration and leaves the ark in Obed-edom's house (2 Samuel 6:7–10).
Nacon is spelled Nakon in the NIV and named Chidon or Kidon in 1 Chronicles 13:9.
