“And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.” — 1 Chronicles 13:9-10

“Human error” is a label given to an action that produces unintended negative consequences, when the outcome cannot be attributed to chance or mechanical failure. Sometimes human error results in tragedy.

That was the case on the hazy, moonless night of July 16, 1999, when the single engine plane John F. Kennedy, Jr. was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Though Kennedy was a licensed pilot, he had limited flying experience and had not been cleared for instrument flight. When his scheduled takeoff time was delayed until after dark, Kennedy should have waited for daylight or asked for the help of an experienced pilot. Instead, he turned down an offer by one of his flight instructors to ride along, saying he “wanted to do it alone.” 

Tragically, the plane carrying Kennedy, his wife, and her sister never reached its destination. Investigators later determined that Kennedy likely became disoriented while flying over water without any landmarks or visible horizon. At that point, his lack of experience in instrument flying may have led him to take instinctive action, in spite of what his instrument panel was telling him. The result was that all three in the plane perished.

In today’s text, we read of another occasion when human error brought tragic consequences—when the oxen transporting the Ark of the Covenant stumbled, making the Ark tilt, and Uzza instinctively reached out to steady it. While the intentions of David, Uzza, and the others accompanying the Ark were honorable, they were not following the prescribed method for moving this sacred symbol of the presence of God. The Lord had ordained that the Ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the priests who were from the tribe of Levi of the family of Kohath. It was never to be touched—doing so was in direct violation of God’s law and would result in death. Those regulations were seemingly either forgotten or ignored, and the result was that Uzza instantly perished.

David and those present on that fateful day were reminded that obedience to God’s laws is vitally important. The Ark had been virtually ignored for years during Saul’s reign; perhaps the people had become lax in paying careful attention to God’s instructions regarding it. On that day, they were reminded of the Ark’s significance. The death of Uzza was a means of preserving an awareness of God’s awesome holiness and the necessity of absolute obedience to His commands.

Though we may be sincere in our desire to serve the Lord, we too must learn His requirements and follow them. While God in His mercy does not always immediately punish those who disobey Him, judgment will come someday unless repentance occurs. Let’s learn from the tragedy that befell Uzza that we need to give careful heed to what God says to us, and strive to do all He commands.

BACKGROUND

The events recorded in today’s text did not occur immediately after the events described in chapter 12, but took place sometime after David captured Jerusalem and purposed to make it his capital (chapter 11). In chapter 13, verses 1-8, David determined to make Jerusalem the religious center of the nation and gathered Israel to ask for their help and blessing. Verses 9-14 describe David’s first attempt to transfer the Ark of God to Jerusalem and the death of Uzza (spelled Uzzah in the parallel account in 2 Samuel 6) when he failed to observe the requirements for handling of the Ark.

The “ark of our God” mentioned in verse 3 is also referred to elsewhere in Scripture as the Ark of the Covenant. The word ark means “box” or “chest.” God had commanded Moses to make the Ark more than four hundred years before David’s era. At times, it contained the tablets of the Law that Moses brought down from Mount Sinai, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that miraculously budded as a verification of his leadership. It is unclear exactly what was in the Ark at this time. However, 1 Kings 8:9 indicates that later, when King Solomon brought the Ark to the Temple, it only contained the two tables of stone. 

Made of acacia wood, the Ark was covered with gold and had an ornate gold lid, referred to as the Mercy Seat. According to Exodus 25:10, its length was two and a half cubits, and its width and height were one and a half cubits. The exact length of a cubit is debated by scholars. 

The Ark had been in Kirjath-jearim for about seventy years after its capture by the Philistines. While David’s intention to relocate the Ark to Jerusalem and the center of Israel’s life was good, transporting this sacred symbol by cart was against God’s specific command. The Ark was designed to be carried by the priests, consecrated Levites from the family of Kohath (see Numbers 4:15). 

For some period of time, the Ark had been at Abinadab’s house where Abinadab’s sons, Uzza (also spelled Uzzah) and Ahio, may have become accustomed to its presence (see 2 Samuel 6:3). These two men were the ones who guided the cart as the Ark began its journey. The procession was initially joyous; verse 8 of today’s text indicates that musicians sang and “played before God with all their might” on harps, psalteries (stringed instruments), timbrels (tambourines), cymbals, and trumpets. 

Verses 10-11 record that when Uzza put out his hand to steady the Ark, “the anger of the Lord was kindled” against him, and he died before God. The word breach in the statement that the Lord had made “a breach upon Uzza” means “to break in upon.” This is the same Hebrew word used to describe God’s destruction of the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:20; it graphically portrays the destroying power of God. 

Because of the death of Uzza, David had the Ark temporarily placed in the house of Obed-edom. According to 2 Samuel 6:11, it stayed there for a period of three months, and brought prosperity and blessing to Obed-edom.

AMPLIFIED OUTLINE

II. The reign of David
     B. The establishment of his kingdom
          2. The prosperity of David’s reign
               a. The establishment of God’s presence in Jerusalem
                    (1) The Ark removed from Kiriath-jearim (13:1-14)
                         (a) The removal of the Ark (13:1-8)
                         (b) The failure of Uzza (13:9-10)
                         (c) The fear of David (13:11-14)

A CLOSER LOOK

1. In verse 7, what term is used to describe the cart? What do you think this implies about the intentions of those who were moving it?
2. Although David had consulted with the captains and leaders of Israel about moving the Ark, who did he not consult? Why was this significant?
3. After placing the Ark in the home of Obed-edom, David waited before making a second attempt to move the Ark to Jerusalem. What are the benefits of waiting on God before we make an important decision or life change?

CONCLUSION

Blessings will come to those who obey God’s commands, but judgment will come to those who disregard them.