to hold the ark] The Chronicler from a feeling of reverence shrinks from saying, and took hold of it (2 Samuel vi. 6).
stumbled] margin threw it down, but the meaning is perhaps rather, let it go, i.e. let the cart on which the Ark was slip backwards. The same Hebrew word is used 2 Kings ix. 33; there Jehu in his mocking humour says not, Throw her down, but, Let her go, an ambiguous command meant to throw as much responsibility as possible upon those who obeyed it.
¹⁰And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.
10. before God] In 2 Samuel vi. 7, by the ark of God.
¹¹And David was displeased, because the Lord had broken forth upon Uzza: and he called that place Perez-uzza[¹], unto this day. ¹²And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?
[¹] That is, The breach of Uzza.
11. was displeased] Rather, was wroth, presumably against his advisers for not warning him that the method adopted for the removal of the Ark was wrong; compare xv. 13.
had broken forth] Literally as Authorized Version, had made a breach upon Uzza. Compare Exodus xix. 22.
Perez-uzza] The meaning of the name is given by the margin The breach of Uzza.
¹³So David removed not the ark unto him into the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.