cymbals, and with trumpets. 9And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen [1]stumbled. 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. 11And David was displeased, because the LORD had broken forth upon Uzza: and he called that place [2]Perez-uzza, unto this day. 12And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me? 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. 14And the ark of God remained with the family
(Heb. kinnōr) was a simpler instrument (like the Greek Kithara), a lyre rather than a true harp.
For a full discussion of nēbhel and kinnōr see Driver, Amos, p. 234, or the articles Music in Ency. Bib. or Hastings' D.B.
9. the threshing-floor of Chidon] LXX. (B) omits of Chidon. In 2 Sam. vi. 6, Nacon's threshing-floor. Nacon is probably a textual blunder.
to hold the ark] The Chronicler from a feeling of reverence shrinks from saying, and took hold of it (2 Sam. vi. 6).
stumbled] mg. 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 Heb. word is used 1 Kin. 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.
10. before God] In 2 Sam. vi. 7, by the ark of God.
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; cp. xv. 13.
had broken forth] Lit, as A.V., had made a breach upon Uzza. Cp. Ex. xix. 22. Perez-uzza] The meaning of the name is given by the mg. The breach of Uzza.
13. Obed-edom the Gittite] As Gittite means man of Gath, Obed-edom was doubtless of Philistine origin; perhaps he attached himself to David during David's sojourn among the Philistines. In xv. 18, 24, xvi. 38, xxvi. 4 an Obed-edom is mentioned as a Levite and a porter (doorkeeper) for the Ark, and elsewhere (xv. 21, xvi. 5) as a singer (see the notes on xv. 18, and xvi. 38).
