The Hebrew word Kîydôwn, represented by H3592, is a proper name for Chidon, a place in Palestine. This name appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the entire Bible, marking it as a location of a singular, significant event rather than a frequently mentioned landmark.
The sole appearance of H3592 is in the narrative describing the transport of the Ark of God. As the procession came to the "threshingfloor of Chidon," the oxen pulling the cart stumbled. In response, a man named Uzza reached out to steady the ark, an act for which he was struck down 1 Chronicles 13:9. This moment permanently associates the location of Chidon with this specific and solemn event in Israel's history.
The context of Chidon's only mention is enriched by several related Hebrew words:
- H1637 gôren (threshingfloor): This word for an open, smooth area is the specific type of place where the event at Chidon occurred. Threshingfloors were common and significant sites, used for processing grain and as public spaces (Ruth 3:2, 1 Kings 22:10).
- H5798 ʻUzzâʼ (Uzza): The individual at the heart of the event at Chidon. Uzza, whose name means strength, was the one who put his hand on the ark and died there as a result of God's anger 1 Chronicles 13:10.
- H1241 bâqâr (oxen): These animals, described as beef cattle or of the ox family, were the catalyst for the incident when they stumbled 1 Chronicles 13:9. Oxen were a vital part of agricultural life and a measure of wealth Job 1:3.
- H8058 shâmaṭ (stumbled): This root word, meaning to fling down or let rest, describes the action of the oxen that prompted Uzza's intervention. A parallel account uses the same word to describe how the oxen "shook" the ark 2 Samuel 6:6.
The theological significance of H3592 is entirely derived from the event that transpired there. The threshingfloor of Chidon serves as the backdrop for a critical lesson on divine holiness.
- A Site of Divine Judgment: Chidon is remembered as the location where "the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza" and God "smote him" for touching the ark 1 Chronicles 13:10. The place is thus a memorial to the consequences of unsanctioned human contact with what God has set apart as holy.
- Reaction to Instability: The crisis was triggered when the oxen H1241 "stumbled" H8058, creating a moment of physical unsteadiness 1 Chronicles 13:9. This earthly instability prompted a fatal human reaction.
- Improper Human Intervention: At Chidon, Uzza "put forth his hand to hold the ark" 1 Chronicles 13:9. This act of taking hold H270 with his hand H3027, while seemingly well-intentioned, represented a crossing of a sacred boundary established by God for the handling of the ark H727.
In summary, H3592 Kîydôwn is more than a simple geographical name. Though mentioned only once, it is etched in biblical memory as the specific site of Uzza's death. The threshingfloor of Chidon is a permanent landmark of a profound and sobering encounter, illustrating the gravity of God's holiness and the serious nature of approaching His presence.
TRV