1. 2 Samuel 6:3–4 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why was the ark placed on a new cart?

2 Samuel 6:3–4 (ESV)

3 And they carried the ark of God on a new cart and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart,

Placing the ark on a new cart would have been an attempt by the Israelites to show respect to the Lord.1 The Philistines did something similar when they returned the ark to Israel (1 Samuel 6:7–8).2 This first attempt to move the ark followed Philistine rather than Levitical procedure.3