The Death of Uzza/2

The Death of Uzza

Exegetical Approaches

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Uzza's Sin

Uzza angered Hashem with a specific sin that led to his death.

Sources:Bavli SotahSotah 35aAbout the Bavli, MetzudotMetzudat David Shemuel II 6About R. David Altschuler,

What was the sin? There are three options for what the sin of Uzza was:

• Uzza showed a lack of faith in Hashem because the Aron has special miracles associated with it, including the fact the Leviem who carried it were actually carried by the Aron itself.¹ By Uzza trying to stop the Aron from falling he showed a lack of faith in Hashem's miracles. 
• Uzza touched the Aron itself which is not allowed even for the Leviem who must carry it by the poles.²  
• Uzza relived himself by the side of the Aron, therefore not giving it the proper honer.³ 

Why did the oxen trip? It was happenstance that the animals tripped Uzza reacted to it by himself.   

The Community's Sin

Israel sinned in the transportation of the Aron which led to the death of Uzza

Sources:R. Yosef KaraShemuel II 6About R. Yosef Kara

What was the sin? The sin was allowing the Aron to be transported on a wagon with animals, and not the prescribed method of the Leviem carrying it.⁴ Uzza's death was only a result of the communties mistake. 

Why did the oxen trip? Hashem caused the animals to trip so that Uzza would react and be killed by touching the Aron to show the sin of Israel.⁵ 

The Combined Sins of the Community and Uzza

Both the nation and Uzza contributed to Hashem's wrath, but the punishment was only given to Uzza

Sources:RadakShemuel II 6About R. David Kimchi, AbarbanelShemuel II 6About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, MalbimShemuel II 6About R. Meir Leibush Weiser

What was the sin? It was a combination of the Israel not designating the Leviem for carrying the Aron and then Uzza was punished because he either should lack of faith in Hashem by trying to catch the Aron,⁶ or He was not allowed to touch the Aron.⁷

Why did the oxen trip?

The Combined Sins of David and Uzza

Both the sins of David and Uzza caused the death of Uzza.

Sources:RashiBemidbar 4:15Shemuel II 6About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, R. S.R. HirschR. S.R. HirschAbout R. Samson Raphael Hirsch

What was the sin? David as the leader should have known to transport the Aron with the Leiviem instead of the wagon. Uzza was the one killed, however, because he either should lack of faith in Hashem by trying to catch the Aron,⁸ or He was not allowed to touch the Aron.⁹

¹ Midrash

² Abarbenal

³ Bavli Sotah 35a

⁴ Bemidbar 7:9

⁵ A proof for this, according to R. Yosef Kara,Shemuel II 6About R. Yosef Kara is the name גֹּרֶן נָכוֹן, which indicates a threshing floor that was clear, specifically so no one could blame the oxen tripping on debrie on the floor. The only explanation would be that Hashem caused the animals as a divine act to punish to Israel with the death of Uzza and the halting of the proscession of the Aron.       

⁶ someone who says that

⁷ the one who says that

⁸

⁹