Perez-uzzah
Perez-uzzah is an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament, located in the region of Judea in modern-day Israel. Known today as Jerusalem. It appears across 2 verses in Scripture.
Biblical History
Perez-uzzah, meaning "outbreak against Uzzah," is the name David gave to the place where God struck down Uzzah for touching the Ark of the Covenant. When David first attempted to bring the Ark from the house of Abinadab in Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem, it was placed on a new cart drawn by oxen. At a certain threshing floor, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark, and God struck him dead for his irreverence (2 Samuel 6:6-8; 1 Chronicles 13:9-11). David was both angry and afraid at this divine outbreak, and he named the place Perez-uzzah as a memorial. This sobering event halted the Ark's procession for three months, during which it was stored at the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. The incident taught David and all Israel that God's holiness demanded reverence and obedience to His prescribed methods for handling sacred things. When David later successfully brought the Ark to Jerusalem, the Levites carried it on poles as Moses had commanded.
Archaeological & Historical Notes
The precise location of Perez-uzzah is unknown. It lay somewhere along the route between Kiriath-jearim (identified with Tell el-Azhar or Deir el-Azar near Abu Ghosh) and Jerusalem. The threshing floor where the incident occurred would have been along one of the ancient roads ascending toward Jerusalem from the west. No archaeological site has been definitively associated with this location, as the name was given to mark a singular event rather than denoting a settlement with lasting occupation. The route from Kiriath-jearim to Jerusalem passes through the Judean hill country, and several ancient road traces have been identified in this region through survey work.
Verse Appearances (2)
2Sam
1Chr
Sources: ISBE Encyclopedia · OpenBible Geocoding (CC BY) · Pleiades Gazetteer View all →