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.
Came to Nachon's threshing-floor, Uzzah put forth his hand. Although he was not a priest, he might be a Levite, and as such was interdicted by express statute from touching any holy thing (Numbers 4:15: cf. 1 Samuel 6:19). The Chaldee version renders the words, 'came to the place prepared for the reception of the ark' - i:e., near the city of David (2 Samuel 6:13).
The oxen shook it - or stumbled (1 Chronicles 13:9). Fearing that the ark was in danger of being overturned, Uzzah, under the impulse of momentary feeling, laid hold of it, to keep it steady. Whether it fell and crushed him, or some sudden disease attacked him, he lay dead upon the spot; and this melancholy occurrence not only threw a cloud over the joyous scene, but entirely stopped the procession, because the ark was left where it then was, in the near neighbourhood of the capital. It is of importance to observe the proportionate severity of the punishments attending the profanation of the ark. The Philistines suffered by diseases, from which they were relieved by their oblations, because the law had not been given to them; the Bethshemites also suffered, but not fatally, their error proceeding from ignorance or inadvertency; but Uzzah, who was a Levite, and well instructed, suffered death for his breach of the law. The severity of Uzzah's fate may seem to us too great for the nature and degree of the offence; but it does not become us to sit in judgment on the dispensations of God; and, besides, it is apparent that the divine purpose was to inspire awe of His majesty, a submission to His law, and a profound veneration for the symbols and ordinances of His worship.