1 Chronicles 13:11
Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day.
Then David became angry

David had intended to honor the LORD by bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, but the death of Uzzah exposed his failure to follow God’s instructions for transporting it. His anger arose amid shock, grief, and fear before the holiness of God.

2Sa 6:8 Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth…
Jon 4:1 Jonah, however, was greatly displeased, and he became angry.
Exo 32:19 As Moses approached the camp and saw the calf…

because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah.

Uzzah died when he touched the Ark, an act forbidden by God. The judgment showed that good intentions could not replace obedience in matters God had clearly commanded.

2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah…
1Sa 6:19 But God struck down some of the people of Beth-shemesh.…
Num 16:35 And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men…

So he named that place Perez-uzzah,

David preserved the memory of the event by naming the place Perez-uzzah, meaning “Outburst Against Uzzah.” The name marked both the seriousness of Uzzah’s sin and the holiness of the LORD.

1Sa 7:12 Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up.…
Gen 28:19 and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city…
Gen 35:7 There Jacob built an altar, and he called that place…

as it is called to this day.

The place remained a lasting reminder in Israel of what happened when the Ark was handled contrary to God’s command.

Gen 26:33 So he called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the city…
Jos 7:26 And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks…
Deu 3:14 He renamed Bashan after himself, Havvoth-jair…

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The King of Israel who sought to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. His reaction to the incident with Uzzah reflects his complex relationship with God and his leadership challenges.

2. Uzzah
A man who touched the Ark of the Covenant to steady it and was struck down by God. His death serves as a sobering reminder of the holiness of God and the importance of obedience.

3. The Ark of the Covenant
A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence with His people. Its transportation was a significant event for Israel.

4. Perez-uzzah
The place named by David, meaning "outburst against Uzzah," marking the site of God's judgment and a turning point in the account.

5. The LORD
The God of Israel, whose holiness and justice are central to the events of this passage. His actions demonstrate the seriousness of His commands.
Teaching Points
The Holiness of God
God's holiness demands reverence and obedience. The incident with Uzzah serves as a powerful reminder that God's instructions are not to be taken lightly.

The Importance of Obedience
Obedience to God's commands is crucial. David's failure to transport the Ark according to God's instructions led to tragic consequences, teaching us the importance of aligning our actions with God's will.

Righteous Anger and Reflection
David's anger and subsequent naming of the place reflect a human response to divine actions. It is important to process our emotions in light of God's character and seek understanding through His Word.

Learning from Mistakes
The incident encourages believers to learn from past mistakes and seek God's guidance in correcting their paths. David later successfully brings the Ark to Jerusalem by following God's instructions.

The Fear of the Lord
A healthy fear of the Lord is foundational to wisdom and understanding. Recognizing God's power and holiness should lead us to live in awe and submission to Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the incident with Uzzah challenge our understanding of God's holiness and justice?

2. In what ways can we ensure that our actions align with God's instructions, as seen in the transportation of the Ark?

3. How can we process feelings of anger or confusion when God's actions or commands seem difficult to understand?

4. What lessons can we learn from David's response to the incident, and how can we apply them to our leadership or personal lives?

5. How does the fear of the Lord influence our daily decisions and relationship with God, and what steps can we take to cultivate a deeper reverence for Him?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Samuel 6:6-8
This parallel account provides additional context and details about the incident with Uzzah, highlighting the same themes of God's holiness and the consequences of disobedience.

Exodus 25:14-15
These verses outline the specific instructions for carrying the Ark, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands precisely.

Leviticus 10:1-3
The account of Nadab and Abihu, who were also struck down for offering unauthorized fire, parallels the theme of God's holiness and the consequences of disregarding His instructions.
Uzza and the ArkF. Whitfield 1 Chronicles 13:7, 9-12
The Imperfections of Human ServiceW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 13:7-13
Perez-UzzaJ. Wolfendale.1 Chronicles 13:9-11
Touching the Ark, and Touching the SaviourJoseph B. Owen, M. A.1 Chronicles 13:9-11
Uzza's TransgressionN. Marshall, D. D.1 Chronicles 13:9-11
People
Abinadab, Ahio, David, Hemath, Israelites, Levites, Obededom, Perez, Saul, Uzza, Uzzah
Places
Baalah, Egypt, Hebron, Kiriath-jearim, Lebo-hamath, Nile River, Perez-uzza
Topics
Angry, Breach, Broken, Calleth, David, Displeased, Displeasing, Forth, Indignant, Lord's, Outburst, Perez, Perezuzza, Perez-uzza, Pe'rez-uz'za, Uzza, Uzzah, Wherefore, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 13:1-14

     5089   David, significance

1 Chronicles 13:3-14

     7306   ark of the covenant

1 Chronicles 13:9-11

     5484   punishment, by God

Library
Importance of Small Things in Religion
You have before you now the picture. I shall want you to look at it, first, in detail, to bring out certain truths which I think it teaches to us; and then, I shall want you to regard the picture as a whole, to run your eye along the whole length of the canvas, and sea the fullness of its meaning. I. First, then, we shall take THE PICTURE IN ITS DETAIL. 1. The first observation I make upon it is this, that God's judgment of sin must differ exceedingly from ours. Who among us when be has read this
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
"From Beth-horon to Emmaus it was hilly."--It was sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem.--"To eight hundred only, dismissed the army, (Vespasian) gave a place, called Ammaus, for them to inhabit: it is sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem." I inquire, whether this word hath the same etymology with Emmaus near Tiberias, which, from the 'warm baths,' was called Chammath. The Jews certainly do write this otherwise... "The family (say they) of Beth-Pegarim, and Beth Zipperia was out of Emmaus."--The
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Of Preparation.
That a Christian ought necessarily to prepare himself before he presume to be a partaker of the holy communion, may evidently appear by five reasons:-- First, Because it is God's commandment; for if he commanded, under the pain of death, that none uncircumcised should eat the paschal lamb (Exod. xii. 48), nor any circumcised under four days preparation, how much greater preparation does he require of him that comes to receive the sacrament of his body and blood? which, as it succeeds, so doth it
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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