3 They set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in the hill: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
The house of Abinadab in Gibeah - . Rather, on the hill (as in margin and 1-Samuel 7:1). It does not at all follow that Abinadab was still alive, nor can we conclude from Uzzah and Ahio being called sons of Abinadab, that they were literally his children. They may well have been sons of Eleazar and grandsons of Abinadab, or yet more remote descendants; since there is no distinct evidence that Abinadab was alive even when the ark was brought to Kirjath-jearim. The house may have retained the name of "the house of Abinadab" long after his death.
A new cart - Every thing used in the worship of God was hallowed or set apart for that purpose: a new cart was used through respect, as that had never been applied to any profane or common purpose. But this was not sufficient, for the ark should have been carried on the shoulders of the priests; and the neglect of this ceremony was the cause of the death of Uzzah.
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that [was] in (b) Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
(b) which was a high place in the city of Baale.
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart,.... Which was a great mistake, since it ought not to have been put upon a cart, old or new; it was to be borne upon men's shoulders, and carried by Levites only, and those of the family of Kohath, to whom no wagons were given, when others had them, for the above reason, Numbers 7:9; it is strange that so many priests and Levites, and of the people of Israel gathered together on that account, and David also, so well versed in the law of God, should not refer to it; perhaps they were led by the example of the Philistines, who put it in a new cart, and set it forward towards Bethshemesh, and were not punished for it; but it should have been considered they were an ignorant Heathen people, and who had no proper persons among them to bear it, and so might be dispensed with. This mistake was afterwards seen by David, and rectified, 1-Chronicles 15:2; wherefore there is no reason to charge the text with an error or escape, and that the word "Kirjathjearim" is wanting, and to be supplied, as Spinosa (d) suggests:
and brought it out, or "after they had brought it out" (e):
of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah; or which was on the hill in Kirjathjearim, 1-Samuel 7:1,
and Uzzah and Ahio the sons of Abinadab drew the new cart; perhaps not only Abinadab himself was dead, but Eleazar also, his eldest son, who was sanctified to keep the ark, as in 1-Samuel 7:1; and these might be his younger sons who at this time had the care of it, and it may be especially Uzzah.
(d) Tractat. Theol. Politic. c. 9. p. 176. (e) "quum extulissent", Piscator.
they set the ark of God upon a new cart--or a covered wagon (see on 1-Samuel 6:7). This was a hasty and inconsiderate procedure, in violation of an express statute (see on Numbers 4:15 and see Numbers 7:9; Numbers 18:3).
They set, &c. - Being taught, and encouraged to do so, by the example of the Philistines, who did so without any token of God's displeasure upon them for so doing. But they did not sufficiently consider, that God might wink at the Philistines, because they were ignorant of God's laws; and yet be angry with them for the same thing, because they knew, or might have known the law of God, which commanded the priests to bear it upon their shoulders. But their present transports of joy of the happy change of their affairs, and their greedy desire of having the ark of God removed, made them inconsiderate. In Gibeah - Or, on the hill, as 1-Samuel 7:1.
*More commentary available at chapter level.