Uzzah

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UZZAH

UZZAH (Heb. עֻזָּה, עֻזָּא), the son of Abinadab (in, ii Sam. 6:3; cf. i Chron. 13:7). When David brought up the Ark of the Lord from the house of Abinadab on the hill in Baalah (ii Sam. 6:2) or Kiriath-Jearim (i Sam. 7:1; i Chron. 13:5–6), Uzzah and Ahio, the two sons of Abinadab, drove the cart upon which the Ark was borne. When they reached the threshing floor of Nacon (ii Chron. 13:9, Chidon), the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark, whereupon he died. Apparently, he had violated the sacrosanct nature of the Ark. Because of this incident the place was called "Perez-Uzzah," meaning, "the breach of Uzzah." David diverted the Ark to the house of *Obed-Edom the Gittite (ii Sam. 6:3–10; i Chron. 13:5–13), and did not venture to bring it into Jerusalem until three months later. According to Josephus (Ant., 6:18; 7:79), Abinadab and his sons were levites.

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