Keraia
2 Samuel 6

2 Samuel 6:8

Uzzah Touches the Ark · 2 Samuel 6:5–11
Read 2 Samuel 6

Translations

Modern
Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.
Traditional
And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez–uzzah to this day.
Literal
And David became hot upon that YHWH had burst forth a breach against Uzzah, and he called the name of that place Perez-uzzah to this day.
Latin
Contristatus est autem David, eo quod percussisset Dominus Ozam, et vocatum est nomen loci illius: Percussio Ozæ, usque in diem hanc.

Original

Hebrew
English
Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah. So he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.

Notes

2 Samuel 6:8

  • David became angry because the LORD had burst forth: Compare Genesis 4:5, 1 Samuel 15:11, Jonah 4:1, and Luke 15:27–28.

  • Perez-uzzah: The first part of this name (Perez) appears in 2 Samuel 5:20. This was where God broke through the Philistine ranks. There, it describes Baal-perazim, the place where God broke through the Philistine forces.

2 Samuel 6:1–23

Except for a brief reference in 1 Samuel 14:18 (see note), the ark of the covenant does not appear again after 1 Samuel 7:1–2. In that passage, the Philistines returned the captured ark to Beth-shemesh, and it was later taken to Kiriath-jearim. There, the ark was placed in the home of Abinadab.

The ark’s long absence during the reign of Saul is significant. It shows that Saul did not seek the Lord and was spiritually insensitive (see 1 Chronicles 10:13–14; 13:3). During Saul’s forty-year reign, the ark played little or no role in Israel’s worship or leadership.

In contrast, David brought the ark to Jerusalem. By doing this, David publicly acknowledged the Lord as Israel’s true king in the new capital (see 2 Samuel 6:2). The ark’s arrival showed that Israel’s political center was now also a place of worship.

Theme notes and profiles

David Celebration The Ark of the Covenant

Events

Parallels

1 Chronicles 13:8–14

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ Uzzah: Died while moving the ark; place named after him

Glossary

Ark of the Covenant Chidon David Jerusalem Judah, Tribe of Kiriath-jearim Music Nacon Perez-uzzah Samuel, Books of First and Second Temple Uzzah

Topics

Ark of the Covenant: Removed from Kirjath-Jearim to the House of Obed-Edom David: King of Israel: Uzzah is Struck Down when he Attempts to Steady the Ark of the Covenant Kirjath-Jearim: David Brings the Ark of the Covenant From Miracles: Catalogue of The Death of Uzzah Murmuring: David Perez-Uzza: Place where the Lord God Struck Down Uzzah Presumption: David's Anger on Account of Uzzah's Death Uzzah: Also Called Uzza, Son of Abinadab: Stricken Dead for Touching the Ark of the Covenant