דברי הימים א, פרק י״ג, פסוק י״ב

The sudden death of a man who merely tried to protect the sacred Ark leaves David with a profound sense of fear, forcing him to completely reconsider his plans. This intense fear of God is specifically directed toward the Ark itself. David realizes the immense challenge of maintaining the strict level of caution required around such overwhelming holiness [מצודת דוד]. He reasons that if a person acting out of pure, protective intentions was struck down instantly, the potential danger of keeping the Ark nearby is simply too great [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Consumed by this dread, David is compelled to question his original goal. The sheer terror of the event makes him pause and ask himself how he can possibly take the risk of bringing the Ark into his own domain [רש״י].