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.
They set the ark of God upon a new cart - or covered wagon (see the notes at 1 Samuel 6:7).This was a hasty and inconsiderate procedure, in violation of an express statute (see the notes at Numbers 4:14-15; Numbers 7:9; Numbers 18:3); and although the Philistines, who had conveyed it from their territory to the borders of lsrael in a cart, had been allowed, as ignorant pagans, to do so with impunity, the case was very different with those who had been instructed in the divine law. But the whole population were moved to such transports of joy by the prosperous course of national events, that in the delirium of that festive season they did not pause to consider minutely the measures they adopted for attaining their object. They were extremely anxious to have the ark established in Jerusalem, where they could have access to it on all occasions when there was need to pray for counsel and succour; and for the attainment of so precious a treasure, so important a benefit to the national interest, all classes were eager to undertake any trouble, or to submit to any inconvenience. But, unhappily, they 'did evil, that this good might come.'
Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart - their services being enlisted probably on account of the inability of their father to accompany the cavalcade, from age or death.