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zemi
Guest
Precisely!
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richardeekw
Guest
Dear Zemi,Why did God killed Uzzah in this passage?
He most probably intended only to protect the ark and catch it before it falls.
I know the ark is the most sacred object the Israelites had and no one was supposed to touch it. But also in this case?
But maybe God saw how good his intentions were and called him right into heaven
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2 Sam 6,6-7**
When they came to the threshing floor of Nodan, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and steadied it, for the oxen were making it tip. But the LORD was angry with Uzzah; God struck him on that spot, and he died there before God.
I was like you before, reading the OT and asking such questions like âWhy God killâŚâ etc.
You must understanding the following developments:
- The Scruptiure, Inspired by God was written by human beings in their time and Culture.
- The belief in the after-life , and resurrrection from the dead was not a belief with the ancient writers.
- The concept of hell was not a belief until later.
- The Israelites believed that Fod is for them and God is on their side conquering and battling against all the other Nations
(Gentiles) - It is only in the New Testament when we come to understand throuth Jesusâ teachings the "God is Love)
43 "You have heard that it was said, âYou shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.â
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,
45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors 28 do the same?
47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 29
48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
The following Books may be helpful , to better appreciate the writings of Sacred Scriptures
And God Said What?: A
n Introduction to Biblical Literary Forms
Discovering Old Testament Origins
The Books of Genesis, Exodus, and SamuelDiscovering
Prophecy and Wisdom:
The Books of Isaiah, Job, Proverbs and Psalms
Author:
Margaret Nutting Ralph is secretary of educational ministries for the Roman Catholic diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, and director of the masters degree programs for Roman Catholics at Lexington Theological Seminary. She is the author of books on Scripture and has given workshops on Scripture throughout the U.S. and in Canada.
I have them and found them very helpful.in appreciating the Old Testament Scriptures
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zemi
Guest
Hi richardeekw,
and thank you very much!
I try to study the Scripture. This year I took up some subjects at a Theological Faculty - also from Prophetic and Wisdom books. I found it enriching. However I want to go even deeper as I know we didnât cover there everything due to the time. Maybe not even some âtoughâ questions that can come up.
As for the âcrueltyâ of God in the OT a have not read perhaps a better article than this. Check it out if you havenât read it. From Jimmy Akin himself. HERE
I was just wondering in this specific case why God would strike someone dead ⌠you know, for what - at least on the surface - seemed like he was trying to do what was good and proper at that moment.
Maybe we could make a thread for other âproblematicâ passages as well.
Thank you, tiphat to you
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Dorothy
Guest
This insight makes a lot of sense.
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zemi
Guest
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Penitus
Guest
Nah. I think attempts by Catholic apologists and theologians to make the Uzzah story into a prefigurement of Maryâs Perpetual Virginity are kind of silly.
Someone hit the nail on the head earlier in the thread. We need to be treating that which is holy, that which is consecrated as such, in reverence and respect.
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Dorothy
Guest
Mary was/is especially set apart by God (sinless) because she was to bear God Incarnate, Jesus Christ.
It seems like a perfect allusion to her.
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zemi
Guest
- Uhm⌠well, Iâm not claiming it in the first place nor Iâm sure any Catholic apologist. Not at least Maryâs Perpetual Virginity. Claiming that this points to her Immaculate Conception would be something different however.
- Speaking of her Immaculate Conception - why should it be silly as one of the cumulative arguments that shows what the ark really is as a dwelling for God?
Nothing to object
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Penitus
Guest
Iâm more than aware of that, trust me. My point was in regards to Maryâs Virginity only. And yes, I have seen some websites with such information on it. The Immaculate Conception is a different issue entirely, and one that I endorse. Please refrain from typing words in my mouth.
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Dorothy
Guest
Thank you for clarifying that.Iâm more than aware of that, trust me. My point was in regards to Maryâs Virginity only. And yes, I have seen some websites with such information on it. The Immaculate Conception is a different issue entirely, and one that I endorse. Please refrain from typing words in my mouth.
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Penitus
Guest
No problem!
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jmcdzzz
Guest
]
Also we do not know the role that Uzzah played other than driving the cart, and being present at the threshing floor. Remember that 20 years had passed and the ark had been kept at Uzzahâs home all that time. His brother Eleazar was given charge of it in 1 Sam. 7:1. As Eleazar was not the one returning the ark, I think itâs safe to assume that either he is dead, or shirking his responsibility. As the next oldest, care for the ark would have passed to Uzzah.
Uzzah was not an innocent bystander. He was in charge of the care of the ark. He may have been ignorant of the Scriptural method of caring for it. However, knowing how holy it was, and knowing that it was originally created during the time that Israel was wandering in the wilderness, implies that there had to be some kind of prescripted method of transporting it. Also the poles were never to be removed from the rings, so it took a concious decision to carry it by cart, rather than by hand.
As a side note. Notice why it had to be carried by hand. It was extremely top-heavy! The ark measured about 45" long by 27" wide, by 27" highâabout the same size as an Army foot-locker.
On top of this was the Mercy Seat. The Mercy Seat was made out of solid gold, and and may have weighed as much as 250 pounds. With it being so top-heavy, it would have required several men whose legs can absorb the shock of irregular terrain, much better than a bronze-age wooden cart.
The other posters are correct in that the blame was in not carrying the ark correctly in the first place. This puts the blame squarely on Davidâs (and probably Uzzahâs) shoulders. This would explain why David was afraid to take it back to Jerusalem.Why did God killed Uzzah in this passage?
He most probably intended only to protect the ark and catch it before it falls.
I know the ark is the most sacred object the Israelites had and no one was supposed to touch it. But also in this case?
But maybe God saw how good his intentions were and called him right into heaven
**
2 Sam 6,6-7**
When they came to the threshing floor of Nodan, Uzzah reached out his hand to the ark of God and steadied it, for the oxen were making it tip. But the LORD was angry with Uzzah; God struck him on that spot, and he died there before God.
Also we do not know the role that Uzzah played other than driving the cart, and being present at the threshing floor. Remember that 20 years had passed and the ark had been kept at Uzzahâs home all that time. His brother Eleazar was given charge of it in 1 Sam. 7:1. As Eleazar was not the one returning the ark, I think itâs safe to assume that either he is dead, or shirking his responsibility. As the next oldest, care for the ark would have passed to Uzzah.
Uzzah was not an innocent bystander. He was in charge of the care of the ark. He may have been ignorant of the Scriptural method of caring for it. However, knowing how holy it was, and knowing that it was originally created during the time that Israel was wandering in the wilderness, implies that there had to be some kind of prescripted method of transporting it. Also the poles were never to be removed from the rings, so it took a concious decision to carry it by cart, rather than by hand.
As a side note. Notice why it had to be carried by hand. It was extremely top-heavy! The ark measured about 45" long by 27" wide, by 27" highâabout the same size as an Army foot-locker.
On top of this was the Mercy Seat. The Mercy Seat was made out of solid gold, and and may have weighed as much as 250 pounds. With it being so top-heavy, it would have required several men whose legs can absorb the shock of irregular terrain, much better than a bronze-age wooden cart.
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ELDEN_S_WIFE
Guest
The Immaculate Conception refers to Mary being conceived without original sin. It does not refer to the Annunciation, which is when the Holy Spirit âConceivedâ Jesus in Maryâs womb.Iâm more than aware of that, trust me. My point was in regards to Maryâs Virginity only. And yes, I have seen some websites with such information on it. The Immaculate Conception is a different issue entirely, and one that I endorse. Please refrain from typing words in my mouth.
This is a common mistake made by Catholics and NonCatholics alike.
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avflf
Guest
There is a theory that the Ark was a receiver/transmitter which kept the High Priest in contact with God. Being an electrical apparatus and, being switched ON at the time, it gave Huzzah the shock of his life.
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Fidelis
Guest
uch:
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avflf
Guest
LiterallyâŚ
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zemi
Guest
Why didnât it give the shock also to the Phillistines?
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avflf
Guest
Because the device was switched OFF at that timeWhy didnât it give the shock also to the Phillistines?
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japhy
Guest
Iâve heard it described not as a âreceiver/transmitterâ but as a capacitor that could store a great charge. That too could explain the instant death of Uzzah from touching it if it was charged at the time.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
If one were making an electrical device it would be better design to plate it with silver, a good conductor, rather than gold, a poor conductor.
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