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6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.

After reading those verses, I often think this was over-reacted. Maybe Uzzah wasn't thinking badly, maybe was he just taking care of the ark of God ?

So what are the deep/fundamental reasons God killed him ?

What's your opinion ?

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    If someone's going to put this question on hold, they should post a comment saying why and offer suggestions for how they could make it sound less opinion based.
    – Sisyphus
    Aug 9, 2014 at 15:54

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An excellent question, and one that I've pondered myself in the past.

A pastor I knew once actually gave a sermon on the issue. His explanation paraphrased is that Uzzah thought that the ark touching him would not sully it, while it touching the ground would.

Uzzah's actions, though seemingly innocuous enough, stemmed from a fundamental misunderstanding of his and the Lord's identity.

If you look at the context surrounding the verse carefully you'll see numerous infractions already committed by Uzzah and his kin. For instance, the Ark was being pulled along in a wagon despite the law saying that only levites were to carry it on wooden rods - Deuteronomy 31:25 & Exodus 25:14-15. Uzzah had become complacent and at the worst possible time - when the ark was being re-introduced to Israelite society. For God to have allowed these insults to pass would have set a precedent among Israel that the throne of God does not need to be treated with reverence and honor.

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The implication of Numbers 4:15 is that God forbids non-priests from touching holy things like the Ark of the Covenant. Apparently, God killed Uzzah because he, not being a priest, touched a holy thing contrary to God's commandment.

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    Thanks for your reply, bu I understood this, however, I keep thinking it was kinda over-reacted. As Uzzah was trying to do well, couldn't God forgive him, or at least punish him in another way that with death ?
    – Ob1lan
    Aug 8, 2014 at 20:36
  • Then God would be lying. if God said death would come, and it didn't, that would be a lie. and God can't lie.
    – Jeremy H
    Aug 8, 2014 at 21:06
  • He can't lie because he is Holy, and just, and pure.
    – Jeremy H
    Aug 8, 2014 at 21:07
  • Answering 'could God have forgiven him' requires speculation. I don't know. I can only relate the logic of the story as given. Unfortunately, on some things we have no firm answers and are left to speculate.
    – user1636273
    Jul 2, 2018 at 13:13
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We mustn’t read more into the text than the Bible allows. The Bible reveals Uzzah’s physical death the Bible does not reveal his eternal outcome. He may have passed into the presence of the Lord.

The Arc of the Covenant was the dwelling place of God; Uzzah’s error was attempting to save God by steadying the arc. God is the Savior of mankind not the other way around.

Could you imagine Uzzah walking around and everyone whispering “there is the man that saved God”.

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  • Cool answer! +1
    – gideon marx
    Aug 9, 2014 at 15:03

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