When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.
We have here Uzzah struck dead for touching the ark, when it was upon its journey towards the city of David, a sad providence, which damped their mirth, stopped the progress of the ark, and for the present, dispersed this great assembly, which had come together to attend it, and sent them home in a fright. I. Uzzah's offence seems very small.
Commenting on 2 Samuel 6:6-11
And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah,.... And which was manifest by smiting him: and God smote him there for his error; committed at this time, which was complicated; as that the ark was put upon a cart, to which he might be the chief adviser, as Procopius Gazaeus notes, when it should have been carried on the shoulders of the Levites...
UZZAH SMITTEN. (Sa2 6:6-11) they came to Nachon's threshing-floor--or Chidon's (Ch1 13:9). The Chaldee version renders the words, "came to the place prepared for the reception of the ark," that is, near the city of David (Sa2 6:13). the oxen shook it--or, "stumbled" (Ch1 13:9). Fearing that the ark was in danger of being overturned, Uzzah, under the impulse of momentary feeling, laid hold of it to keep it steady.