Now, before I read, let me say this. I Chronicles 15 is the story of the second attempt by David to bring the Ark to Jerusalem. And in this story we see what happened to Uzzah. I Chronicles 15:11 “And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab,
(12) And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
(13) For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. (14) So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. (15) And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.”
I Chronicles 15 is David’s second attempt to bring the Ark into Jerusalem. And it tells us why the LORD quote “made a breach upon Uzza” (I Chronicles 13:10). Here is that reason – I Chronicles 15:13. (13) “For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.”
The lesson has now been learned by both David and the people of Israel. God’s method for the moving of the Ark from one place to another had been rejected in favor of a “better way.” David thought it would be sufficient to use a “new cart” drawn by two oxen. But what had the LORD specifically told the Jews, including David and Uzzah and his brother Ahio as to “how” the ark was to be carried?
Here’s what He says through Moses. Exodus 25:13 “And thou shalt make staves of shittim [acacia] wood, and overlay them with gold. (14) And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. (15) The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. (16) And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.” Numbers 1:51 “And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” Numbers 4:15 “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.”
You see, when the LORD gave the task of building the tabernacle and the ark to Moses, He gave him detail instructions. One of those instructions was to put rings on the outside of the ark. And these rings would hold staves. The way the ark was to be transported was by hand. And the only ones who were to carry it were the Levites, in particular the family of Kohath. No one else – ever. And why? Because they were the only ones who could touch it. And were Uzzah and Ahio Kohathites? No. And, since Uzzah was neither a Levite nor a Kohathite, he was not to touch the ark. Uzzah clearly violated God’s holy command. Yes it would be good to steady an ordinary load being carried by two oxen on a cart. Yet, this was no ordinary cargo. He, nor any other Jew had the authority to touch the ark.
So, it was only right for the LORD to take Uzzah’s life. Here’s His Word again. Nu. 1:51 “…and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” Numbers 4:15 “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.”
First, God always does the right thing even when we don’t understand.
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(12) And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.
(13) For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. (14) So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel. (15) And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the LORD.”
I Chronicles 15 is David’s second attempt to bring the Ark into Jerusalem. And it tells us why the LORD quote “made a breach upon Uzza” (I Chronicles 13:10). Here is that reason – I Chronicles 15:13. (13) “For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.”
The lesson has now been learned by both David and the people of Israel. God’s method for the moving of the Ark from one place to another had been rejected in favor of a “better way.” David thought it would be sufficient to use a “new cart” drawn by two oxen. But what had the LORD specifically told the Jews, including David and Uzzah and his brother Ahio as to “how” the ark was to be carried?
Here’s what He says through Moses. Exodus 25:13 “And thou shalt make staves of shittim [acacia] wood, and overlay them with gold. (14) And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. (15) The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. (16) And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee.” Numbers 1:51 “And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” Numbers 4:15 “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.”
You see, when the LORD gave the task of building the tabernacle and the ark to Moses, He gave him detail instructions. One of those instructions was to put rings on the outside of the ark. And these rings would hold staves. The way the ark was to be transported was by hand. And the only ones who were to carry it were the Levites, in particular the family of Kohath. No one else – ever. And why? Because they were the only ones who could touch it. And were Uzzah and Ahio Kohathites? No. And, since Uzzah was neither a Levite nor a Kohathite, he was not to touch the ark. Uzzah clearly violated God’s holy command. Yes it would be good to steady an ordinary load being carried by two oxen on a cart. Yet, this was no ordinary cargo. He, nor any other Jew had the authority to touch the ark.
So, it was only right for the LORD to take Uzzah’s life. Here’s His Word again. Nu. 1:51 “…and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.” Numbers 4:15 “And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.”
First, God always does the right thing even when we don’t understand.
Go on to Page Five