“And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.”
Consulted. David wished to give religion due splendour and authority, in his dominions; and he prudently contrives to obtain the general consent. (Haydock) — “Where there is no liberty, there is no religion;” and no change in religious matters should be attempted, without the consent of the Church. (Calmet)
“And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the LORD our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us: send: Heb. break forth and send in their: Heb. in the cities of their suburbs”
To us. In the first assembly, David’s motion was adopted, and a more general meeting, particularly of the priests, was convoked. (Haydock)
“And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul. bring: Heb. bring about”
Sought. Protestants, “inquired not at it.” Yet it is certain that many resorted to the ark, at that time. But is was not treated with such honours as David now wished. (Haydock)
“So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.”
Emath, from “the troubled river” Nile, (Josue xiii. 3.; Calmet) or Rhinocorura, (Tirinus; Menochius) to the northern extremities of the promised land, (Haydock) near Emesa.
“And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjathjearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the LORD, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.”
Hill. Hebrew, “to Baalah,” which was another name, as well as “Baalim,” for Cariathiarim, 1 Kings vii. 2. (Calmet)
“And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart. carried: Heb. made the ark to ride”
Brother. Hebrew, “Acho,” which has the same meaning. (Tirinus) — Septuagint, Syriac, &c., “his brethren.” (Calmet)
“And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. Chidon: also called Nachon, 2.Sam.6.6. stumbled: or, shook it”
Chidon. Alias, Nachon. (Challoner) (2 Kings vi.) — He had perhaps two names. (Du Hamel) — Syriac and Arabic, “of Ramim.” (Calmet) — The ox. Protestants, “the oxen stumbled.”
“And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perezuzza to this day. Perezuzza: that is, The breach of Uzza”
Divided. Slain. See chap. xiv. 11., 1 Kings xv. 32., and 2 Kings vi. 7. (Haydock) — The soul of brutes perishes; that of man is only divided from the body by death.
“So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. brought: Heb. removed”
Obededom. A Levite was judged more proper to guard the ark, chap. xv. 18. — Gethite. Because he had dwelt in Geth. (Worthington)