2 Samuel 6:7
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.
What does 2 Samuel 6:7 mean?
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).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).
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).
