Someone asked me a question some time ago about a particular event involving the Ark of the Covenant and Uzza. The episode is found in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles
2 Sam 6:6-7
6 ¶ 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. 7 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. |
The question was, why did God strike Uzza? Did Uzza do wrong?
The book of Chronicles is more specific
And the Lord was angry with Uzza, and struck him, because he had touched the ark; and he died there before the Lord. (1 Chron. 13:10) |
The Ark of the Covenant is the most sacred object in Israel. It is actually the resting place of God on earth. During its captivity among the Philistines and its subsequent liberation, it showed itself to be able to take care of itself. The Ark of the Covenant even then contrasts itself starkly with the idols of the heathens which need human beings to prop them up and carry them around. Furthermore, the holiness of the Ark itself renders it untouchable. Sacred objects in Israel cannot be touched unless these are first covered by the priests (cf. Num. 4:5.15.20). It is due to the holiness of the Ark that it can only be carried around using horizontal bars.
That the "sin" of Uzza has caused this unfortunate event in Israel, is reflected in David's reaction to it. "And David was displeased..." not because of what God has done*, but because the incident has marred the joyful celebration of the day. David had wanted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, the site of his future kingdom. With Uzza's "sin" the transfer had to be delayed for three months before it can be effected.
What is the possible meaning of this event seen from the perspective of a reader in the twenty-first century AD? First, the facts that the text presents:
1. Uzza failed to treat the Ark with the respect due to it. He -- in the words of Chronicles "extended his hand" upon the ark, thereby profaning it. The expression "extend one's hand" is a Levitical formula that describes disrespect for something sacred.
2. The Ark of the Covenant practically left Shiloh, allowed itself to be brought to Philistine soil, and from there, brought itself back into the land of Israel where it stayed in obscurity until the rise of David. Unlike the idols of the heathens, it can take care of itself. Now that David, God's chosen, has decided to bring it to Jerusalem, its future resting place, the Ark "allows" itself to be brought there but on its own terms.
3. The Ark of the Covenant had been during Israel's wanderings in the desert, the concrete sign of God accompanying his people. With the coming of David, the Ark once more becomes a sign of the presence of God in the new kingdom. With the Uzza-event, however, the Ark is shown to be no mere banner for the kingdom of David. It is not an object that David and his men can just treat the way they want to. Even here in this square object, the transcendence of Yahweh seated on the cherubim shines forth, untouchable and unmanipulable by men.
Given these three elements in the story, I suggest this meaning for the Uzza-event: That Uzza should die BY the Ark (perhaps crushed underneath it) is a warning that through the Ark of the Covenant, God shows His desire to accompany his people while they remain his people, that is, obedient to the laws governing his covenant: Be holy as I am holy. God will not shrink from withdrawing His presence from His people -- as subsequent events will show -- if His covenanted people fails to do justice with their God.
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The line has to be translated: "David was saddened that God vented his anger on Uzza..." What has been translated as "that" is the Hebrew word "ki" which serves to emphasize the statement that follows it, and does not necessarily connote a causal connection as in "because".