1 Chronicles 21:15

KJV

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

KJV (with Strong's)

And God {H430} sent {H7971} an angel {H4397} unto Jerusalem {H3389} to destroy {H7843} it: and as he was destroying {H7843}, the LORD {H3068} beheld {H7200}, and he repented {H5162} him of the evil {H7451}, and said {H559} to the angel {H4397} that destroyed {H7843}, It is enough {H7227}, stay {H7503} now thine hand {H3027}. And the angel {H4397} of the LORD {H3068} stood {H5975} by the threshingfloor {H1637} of Ornan {H771} the Jebusite {H2983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

God also sent an angel to destroy Yerushalayim, but when he was about to carry out the destruction, ADONAI saw it and changed his mind about causing such distress; so he said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Now withdraw your hand."The angel of ADONAI was standing at the threshing-floor of Ornan the Y'vusi.

Berean Standard Bible

Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

American Standard Version

And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was about to destroy, Jehovah beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the destroying angel, It is enough; now stay thy hand. And the angel of Jehovah was standing by the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
First Chronicles 21:15 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of David's census and its devastating consequences, revealing the profound interplay of divine judgment and mercy. As a plague unleashed by God's wrath ravages Jerusalem, the Lord observes the destruction, relents from the full extent of His judgment, and commands the destroying angel to cease its work. This divine intervention occurs at the significant location of the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, a site destined to become the place of atonement and the future Temple, underscoring God's ultimate sovereignty and His provision for reconciliation even amidst righteous anger.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader account of King David's sin in taking a census of Israel and Judah, an act explicitly stated to have displeased the Lord in [1 Chronicles 21:1](/1_chronicles/21-1 "1 Chronicles 21:1 - David's Sinful Census"). The narrative immediately preceding [1 Chronicles 21:15](/1_chronicles/21-15 "1 Chronicles 21:15 - God Relents from the Plague") details God's judgment in response to David's sin, offering David a choice of three punishments: famine, defeat by enemies, or a plague. David's choice to "fall into the hand of the LORD" ([1 Chronicles 21:13](/1_chronicles/21-13 "1 Chronicles 21:13 - David Chooses God's Hand")) leads to a devastating plague that claims 70,000 lives ([1 Chronicles 21:14](/1_chronicles/21-14 "1 Chronicles 21:14 - The Plague's Toll")). Verse 15 thus represents the turning point where God's compassion intercedes, halting the destruction and setting the stage for David's subsequent acts of repentance and sacrifice, which ultimately lead to the selection of the Temple site.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The act of taking a census, while seemingly administrative, could be viewed with suspicion if it implied reliance on human strength rather than divine provision, or if it was done for purposes of taxation or conscription without divine authorization, as suggested by the parallel account in [2 Samuel 24](/2_samuel/24 "2 Samuel 24 - David's Census and Punishment"). The "destroying angel" is a familiar motif in Old Testament narratives, representing a divine agent of judgment, as seen in the Passover narrative ([Exodus 12:23](/exodus/12-23 "Exodus 12:23 - The Destroyer at Passover")). Threshingfloors were typically open, elevated areas where grain was separated from chaff, making them suitable for public gatherings and, as seen here, for significant divine encounters and sacrifices. The mention of "Ornan the Jebusite" highlights the continued presence of the pre-Israelite inhabitants of Jerusalem, even after David's conquest of the city, indicating a shared, if sometimes tense, coexistence.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes within [1 Chronicles](/1_chronicles/1 "1 Chronicles - Genealogies and David's Reign") and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty**; despite the angel's destructive power, it is God who ultimately controls the plague, commanding "It is enough, stay now thine hand." This demonstrates God's absolute authority over life, death, judgment, and salvation. Secondly, the verse highlights **Divine Judgment and Mercy**. While God's justice demands a response to sin, His profound mercy is evident as He relents from the full extent of His wrath, demonstrating His compassion even in the midst of severe judgment. This echoes themes found in [Psalm 103:8](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The Lord's Compassion"). Thirdly, the verse introduces the **Significance of Place**. The angel stopping at "the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite" is not arbitrary. This location, also known as Mount Moriah, would later become the site where David offered sacrifices to stop the plague ([1 Chronicles 21:26](/1_chronicles/21-26 "1 Chronicles 21:26 - David's Sacrifice at Ornan's Threshingfloor")), and subsequently, the sacred ground for the construction of the First Temple by Solomon ([2 Chronicles 3:1](/2_chronicles/3-1 "2 Chronicles 3:1 - Solomon Builds the Temple on Mount Moriah")). This foreshadows the centrality of atonement and worship in God's redemptive plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Repented (Hebrew, _nāḥam'_):** The Hebrew verb `נחם` (_nāḥam_) is often translated as "to repent," "to be sorry," "to comfort," or "to relent." When applied to God, as here, it does not imply a change in God's moral character or a mistake on His part, but rather a change in His course of action or His expressed intention concerning judgment. It signifies God's compassionate response to a situation, often in light of human repentance or intercession, leading Him to withdraw or modify a threatened punishment. In this context, it reflects God's profound mercy in relenting from the full execution of His righteous anger.
* **Angel (Hebrew, _mal’ākh'_):** The Hebrew word `מַלְאָךְ` (_mal’ākh_) literally means "messenger." While it can refer to human messengers, in this context, it unequivocally refers to a divine, supernatural being, an agent of God's will. Here, the angel serves as an instrument of divine judgment, specifically a "destroying angel," highlighting the awesome and sometimes terrifying power wielded by God's heavenly hosts in executing His decrees.
* **Threshingfloor (Hebrew, _gōren'_):** A `גֹּרֶן` (_gōren_) was a flat, open area, often on elevated ground, used for threshing grain. It was a common, utilitarian part of ancient agricultural life. However, its significance here transcends the mundane; it becomes a consecrated space by divine intervention. The fact that the angel stops specifically at Ornan's threshingfloor elevates this ordinary location to a place of profound theological importance, foreshadowing its future role as the site of the Temple and thus the central place of worship and atonement for Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it":** This opening clause establishes the divine origin of the judgment and its specific target: Jerusalem, the heart of the nation and David's capital. The "angel" is God's instrument, highlighting the directness and severity of the divine wrath against David's sin and its impact on the people.
* **"and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil":** This is the theological core of the verse. As the angel carries out its destructive mission, the Lord (Yahweh) observes the suffering. The phrase "beheld" emphasizes God's active awareness and engagement with human events. His "repenting him of the evil" signifies His compassionate relenting from the full extent of the judgment, not because He erred, but because His mercy triumphs over judgment, perhaps in response to David's earlier repentance and intercession (though not explicitly stated in this verse, it is the broader context).
* **"and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand":** This is a direct, authoritative divine command, demonstrating God's absolute control over His agents and His judgment. The simple declaration "It is enough" signals the cessation of the plague, marking the limit of God's wrath and the triumph of His mercy. It underscores that even in judgment, God's ultimate desire is not annihilation but reconciliation and restoration.
* **"And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite":** This final clause provides the precise geographical location where the plague was halted. The specific mention of "Ornan the Jebusite" and his "threshingfloor" is crucial. This seemingly ordinary place is divinely chosen as the site where judgment ends and where the path to atonement and future worship will begin, linking this moment of divine mercy to the establishment of the central sanctuary in Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the description of "the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil," attributing human-like actions and emotions (seeing, relenting) to God to convey His active engagement and compassionate response to the unfolding tragedy. The "angel" functions as a powerful **Symbolism** of divine judgment and wrath, a visible manifestation of God's righteous anger against sin. Conversely, the angel's cessation of destruction at God's command symbolizes God's ultimate mercy and control over the instruments of His judgment. Most significantly, the stopping of the angel at "the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite" serves as potent **Foreshadowing**. This seemingly mundane location is subtly elevated to a place of profound future significance, hinting at its destiny as the site of David's altar, the stopping of the plague, and eventually, the construction of Solomon's Temple, thereby linking divine judgment and mercy to the necessity of atonement and sacred space.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Chronicles 21:15 is a profound theological statement on the nature of God, revealing His justice and His mercy in powerful tandem. It demonstrates that while sin incurs divine judgment, God's compassion is ultimately greater, leading Him to limit destruction and provide a path for reconciliation. The stopping of the plague at a specific location, which then becomes the site of sacrifice and the future Temple, underscores the biblical principle that atonement is necessary to bridge the gap created by sin and that God Himself provides the means for this reconciliation. This event thus serves as a foundational narrative for understanding the necessity of sacrifice and the establishment of sacred space for worship and forgiveness in Israel's history.

* [Exodus 32:14](/exodus/32-14 "Exodus 32:14 - God Relents from Destroying Israel")
* [Joel 2:13](/joel/2-13 "Joel 2:13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")
* [Jonah 3:10](/jonah/3-10 "Jonah 3:10 - God Relents from Disaster")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene at Ornan's threshingfloor offers a profound spiritual lesson: even in the midst of severe consequences for our actions, God's mercy is a constant and powerful force. David's sin brought widespread suffering, yet God, in His compassion, intervened to halt the destruction. This reminds us that while sin has real and often painful repercussions, our God is not eager to destroy but is "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" ([Psalm 103:8](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The Lord's Compassion")). The stopping of the angel at a specific place, which became the site of atonement, points to the truth that God always provides a way back to Him, a place where reconciliation can occur. For us, this place is not a physical threshingfloor, but the spiritual reality of repentance and faith in the atoning work of Christ. This verse encourages us to acknowledge our sins, trust in God's boundless mercy, and seek His provision for forgiveness, knowing that He desires to turn away from wrath and restore us to fellowship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's act of "repenting" in this verse deepen your understanding of His character, particularly His mercy in the face of judgment?**
* **In what ways does the stopping of the plague at Ornan's threshingfloor foreshadow the ultimate solution to sin and judgment?**
* **Considering David's sin and the plague, what does this passage teach us about the ripple effects of leadership's choices, and what is our responsibility in light of this?**

### FAQ
**Why did God "repent" if He is unchanging?**

Answer: The Hebrew word `נחם` (_nāḥam_), translated as "repented," when applied to God, does not imply a change in His perfect character or a realization of a mistake. Instead, it signifies a change in His expressed intention or course of action in response to a change in circumstances or the repentance of His people. God's ultimate purposes and moral character remain constant, but His interaction with humanity is dynamic. Here, His "relenting" from the full extent of the plague demonstrates His profound compassion and willingness to show mercy, perhaps in response to David's earlier repentance and intercession (as seen in [1 Chronicles 21:8-13](/1_chronicles/21-8 "1 Chronicles 21:8-13 - David's Repentance and Choice of Punishment")). It highlights God's freedom to respond mercifully, even after pronouncing judgment, aligning with His character as a God who is "gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love" ([Psalm 145:8](/psalms/145-8 "Psalm 145:8 - God's Graciousness")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The dramatic scene at Ornan's threshingfloor, where the destroying angel is halted by divine command, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as God's mercy intervened to stop the plague through an angel and a future site of sacrifice, so too did God's ultimate mercy intervene for all humanity through His Son. Jesus is the true and perfect sacrifice, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), whose death on the cross definitively appeased God's wrath against sin. He is the ultimate "threshingfloor," the place where judgment was fully borne and where reconciliation was achieved. Through His atoning work, the "destroying angel" of sin and death is disarmed, and those who believe in Him are spared from eternal destruction. Furthermore, just as the threshingfloor became the site of the Temple, Jesus declared Himself the true Temple ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")), the dwelling place of God among humanity, through whom we now have direct access to the Father. He is the one who cries "It is enough!" over the penalty of sin, ushering in an era of grace and new life for all who trust in His finished work ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 6:6

¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Exodus 32:14

And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.

Matthew 23:37

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not!

Matthew 23:38

Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.

Jeremiah 26:18

Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

Mark 14:41

And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take [your] rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Psalms 78:38

But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.