פרשת שמיני תשכ"ד - הפטרת שמיני - פרץ עוזה

And David was displeased, because the Lord had burst out against ῾Uzza: and he called the name of the place Pereż-῾uzza to this day.

"And your staff with which you smote the Nile take in your hand, etc.": because of their (seditious) "murmurings." This is one of the three instances where Israel "murmured" against them (the L rd and Moses) and said: They (the following) are instruments of punishment, (but not of good): the incense, the ark, and the staff. They said: This incense is an instrument of punishment. It killed Nadav and Avihu, viz. (Leviticus 10:1) "And the sons of Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, took each of them his coal-pan, etc." Therefore, let all of Israel know that it can (also) effect atonement, viz. (Numbers 17:12) "and he put on the incense and he atoned for the people." They said: This ark is an instrument of punishment. It smote the men of Beth Shemesh, viz. (I Samuel 6:19) "And He smote the men of Beth Shemesh because they looked into the ark of the L rd, etc." And it smote Uzzah, viz. (II Samuel 6:7) "and the wrath of the L rd burned against Uzzah … and he died there by the ark of G d." Therefore, let Israel know that it can (also) effect blessing, as it is written (Ibid. 11) "And the ark of the L rd remained in the house of Oved-Edom the Gittite … and the L rd blessed Oved-Edom, etc." They said: This staff is an instrument of punishment. It brought ten plagues upon the Egyptians in Egypt and ten upon the sea. Therefore, let them know that it can (also) effect (beneficent) miracles, as it is written "And your staff with which you smote the Nile, etc." … because of their "murmurings."

On a new wagon. [Dovid] made a mistake about something that even children at their Rebbe's school know "Because the sacred work was [incumbent] upon them, which they had to carry on their shoulders" (Bamidbar 7:9). And because [Dovid] said, "Your statutes were songs for me in the house of my dwelling,"¹Hashem said to Dovid, “The words of the Torah upon which it is written, ‘Blink your eyes [and be distracted] from it and it is gone’ (Mishlei 23:5), you are calling songs?” (Sotah 35a). A song is of only temporary interest and then forgotten (Maharsho, ibid). (Tehilim 119:54) he was punished to come to this,²Making the mistake of transporting the Ark by wagon. and [to have] Uzoh die through his hand. Therefore³After learning from this mistake. when they brought [the Ark] from the house of Oveid they brought it by shoulder as it says (Divrei Hayomim I, 15:12), "And he said to them, 'You, the heads of households for the Levites, you and your brothers sanctify yourselves and bring up the Ark… because, the first time you did it not.⁴Transporting the Ark on your shoulders. Hashem, Elokeinu made a breach upon us because we did not consult with Him as was proper'."⁵Consequently leading to our tragic mistake.

On a new wagon. [Dovid] made a mistake about something that even children at their Rebbe's school know "Because the sacred work was [incumbent] upon them, which they had to carry on their shoulders" (Bamidbar 7:9). And because [Dovid] said, "Your statutes were songs for me in the house of my dwelling,"¹Hashem said to Dovid, “The words of the Torah upon which it is written, ‘Blink your eyes [and be distracted] from it and it is gone’ (Mishlei 23:5), you are calling songs?” (Sotah 35a). A song is of only temporary interest and then forgotten (Maharsho, ibid). (Tehilim 119:54) he was punished to come to this,²Making the mistake of transporting the Ark by wagon. and [to have] Uzoh die through his hand. Therefore³After learning from this mistake. when they brought [the Ark] from the house of Oveid they brought it by shoulder as it says (Divrei Hayomim I, 15:12), "And he said to them, 'You, the heads of households for the Levites, you and your brothers sanctify yourselves and bring up the Ark… because, the first time you did it not.⁴Transporting the Ark on your shoulders. Hashem, Elokeinu made a breach upon us because we did not consult with Him as was proper'."⁵Consequently leading to our tragic mistake.