And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for [his] error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Ver. 7. And the anger of the Lord was kindled.] For he will not take up with a careless and slubbered service: he "will be sanctified in all those that draw near unto him." Lev 10:3

And God smote him there for his error.] Smote the breath out of his body: the Rabbis say it was done by rending his arm from his shoulder: that it was by a rent or rupture, may be gathered from the name given thereupon to the place Perez Uzza, or the Breach of Uzza. Ipso in officio inofficiosus fuit qui iniussa praesumpsit, saith Salvian. a He was too officious, and therein inofficious; this was his error, his factum imprudens, as Tremellius rendereth it. See Numbers 4:15. Satan, who loveth to be God's ape, told the heathens that Ilus Palladium ex incendio eripiens, dum arderet Templum Minervae, luminibus privatus est. b Ilus, whilst he snatched the image of their goddess Minerva out of her burning temple, lost his eyes.

a Lib. vi., De Provid.

b Plutarch. Parallel.

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