2 Samuel 24:18

KJV

¶ And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Gad {H1410} came {H935} that day {H3117} to David {H1732}, and said {H559} unto him, Go up {H5927}, rear {H6965} an altar {H4196} unto the LORD {H3068} in the threshingfloor {H1637} of Araunah {H728} the Jebusite {H2983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Gad came to David that day and said to him, "Go, set up an altar to ADONAI on the threshing-floor of Aravnah the Y'vusi."

Berean Standard Bible

And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

American Standard Version

And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto Jehovah in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Following King David's unauthorized and prideful census, which brought a devastating plague upon Israel, 2 Samuel 24:18 records a pivotal divine instruction delivered by the prophet Gad. This verse marks the immediate aftermath of God's judgment being stayed, providing David with a specific command to construct an altar to the LORD at the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. This act of obedience was essential for atonement, reconciliation, and the restoration of God's favor, establishing a sacred site that would later become profoundly significant in Israel's history of worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the climax of the narrative concerning David's sin in numbering Israel. The preceding verses detail the census itself, David's immediate regret, and God's offer of three choices for punishment, from which David chose to "fall into the hand of the LORD" ([2 Samuel 24:14](/2-samuel/24-14 "2 Samuel 24:14 - David Chooses God's Hand")). The subsequent plague ravaged the land, culminating in the angel of the LORD extending his hand over Jerusalem to destroy it. However, God relented, commanding the angel to stop at the threshingfloor of Araunah ([2 Samuel 24:16](/2-samuel/24-16 "2 Samuel 24:16 - The Angel Stops the Plague")). Our verse, [2 Samuel 24:18](/2-samuel/24-18 "2 Samuel 24:18 - Gad's Command to David"), immediately follows this divine cessation of judgment, presenting God's direct and specific instruction for David to build an altar at this exact location, thereby providing the means for atonement and the formal end of the plague. The narrative continues with David's obedient purchase of the threshingfloor and his offering of sacrifices, signifying the restoration of peace between God and His people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is Jerusalem, specifically the threshingfloor of Araunah, a Jebusite. The Jebusites were the original inhabitants of the city before David conquered it and made it his capital, renaming it the City of David. Threshingfloors were typically elevated, open-air areas, often on hilltops, exposed to wind for winnowing grain. They were communal spaces, used for agricultural work but also sometimes for business transactions or even judicial proceedings. The fact that this particular threshingfloor belonged to a Jebusite, a non-Israelite, is significant, highlighting David's interaction with the pre-Israelite inhabitants and the eventual integration of the land. The command to "rear an altar" reflects the ancient Israelite practice of offering sacrifices as a means of atonement, thanksgiving, and communion with God, a central element of their covenant relationship.
* **Key Themes:** [2 Samuel 24:18](/2-samuel/24-18 "2 Samuel 24:18 - Gad's Command to David") encapsulates several profound themes. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Initiative and Grace**, as God, despite David's sin, provides the means for reconciliation and the cessation of judgment, demonstrating His enduring mercy. Secondly, it emphasizes the critical importance of **Obedience to Divine Command**, particularly in times of crisis and repentance; David's immediate response to Gad's instruction is crucial for the restoration of order and blessing. Thirdly, the verse highlights **Atonement and Sacrifice** as the prescribed path for dealing with sin and appeasing divine wrath in the Old Testament covenant. Finally, the specific mention of the "threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite" introduces the theme of **Sacred Space and Divine Presence**, as this very site would later become the location for [Solomon's Temple](/2-chronicles/3-1 "2 Chronicles 3:1 - Site of Solomon's Temple"), the permanent dwelling place of God's presence among His people, as referenced in [2 Chronicles 3:1](/2-chronicles/3-1 "2 Chronicles 3:1 - Site of Solomon's Temple"). This transformation of a common agricultural site into a holy sanctuary foreshadows God's redemptive plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Gad (Hebrew, _Gāḏ_):** Gad was a prophet, one of David's seers, who served as God's direct messenger to the king. His role here is crucial, as he delivers not a suggestion, but a divine imperative ("Go up, rear an altar"). This emphasizes the authoritative nature of the command and God's direct involvement in guiding David toward repentance and reconciliation.
* **Altar (Hebrew, _mizbēaḥ_):** An altar was a raised structure, typically made of earth or unhewn stones, upon which sacrifices were offered to God. Its construction was a fundamental act of worship and a place of encounter with the divine. In this context, the altar is specifically for atonement, signifying a place where sin is addressed and God's wrath is appeased through prescribed offerings.
* **Threshingfloor (Hebrew, _gōren_):** As noted in the context, a threshingfloor was an open, elevated area for processing grain. Its spiritual significance often extends beyond agriculture, symbolizing a place of separation (wheat from chaff), judgment, or, as here, a pivotal location for divine intervention and encounter. The transformation of this ordinary, utilitarian space into a sacred site for an altar underscores God's ability to sanctify the mundane and establish His presence in unexpected places.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him":** This clause emphasizes the immediacy and directness of God's communication to David through His prophet. "That day" links the command directly to the cessation of the plague, indicating that God's mercy is accompanied by clear instructions for proper response and reconciliation. Gad acts as the authoritative voice of God, leaving no room for David to misunderstand the divine will.
* **"Go up, rear an altar unto the LORD":** This is the core divine command. "Go up" implies ascending to the elevated threshingfloor. "Rear an altar" is a direct instruction for an act of worship and atonement. The purpose is explicitly "unto the LORD," indicating that this is not a general act of piety but a specific, divinely mandated response to God's judgment and a means of seeking His favor and forgiveness. It signifies a return to proper covenant relationship through prescribed ritual.
* **"in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite":** The precise geographical and ownership detail is highly significant. The specific location, where the angel of the LORD stopped the plague, is now designated as the site for the altar. The mention of "Araunah the Jebusite" highlights the fact that this sacred ground was initially owned by a non-Israelite, foreshadowing its future significance as a universal place of worship (the Temple Mount) and underscoring God's sovereign plan that transcends ethnic boundaries.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Direct Speech** is prominent, as Gad's words are quoted verbatim, lending immediacy and divine authority to the command. The **Symbolism** of the threshingfloor is rich; it transitions from a place of agricultural labor and potential judgment (separating wheat from chaff) to a consecrated space of atonement and divine encounter. The **Repetition** of the location's name in the subsequent narrative (Araunah's threshingfloor) reinforces its importance and future destiny. Furthermore, there's a subtle **Irony** in that the site of a devastating plague, brought on by David's sin, becomes the very ground for reconciliation and the future location of the Temple, God's dwelling place. This transformation underscores God's redemptive power to bring good out of human failure.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Samuel 24:18 is a profound testament to God's character, revealing His justice, mercy, and faithfulness. It demonstrates that while God punishes sin, He also graciously provides a path for repentance and restoration. The command to build an altar at a specific location underscores the Old Testament principle that atonement requires a divinely appointed sacrifice and a consecrated space. This act of obedience by David not only brought an end to the plague but also established a foundational site for Israel's future worship, emphasizing that true reconciliation with God is always initiated by Him and requires a humble, obedient response from humanity. The narrative highlights that God's ultimate desire is not merely to punish but to restore His relationship with His people through the prescribed means of grace.

* [Leviticus 17:11](/leviticus/17-11 "Leviticus 17:11 - Life in the Blood for Atonement")
* [Psalm 51:17](/psalm/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A Broken and Contrite Heart")
* [Isaiah 1:18](/isaiah/1-18 "Isaiah 1:18 - Though Your Sins Are Like Scarlet")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This pivotal moment in David's life offers profound lessons for believers today. Just as David’s sin brought dire consequences, our own disobedience can lead to brokenness and separation from God. However, like God’s immediate provision for David, He always offers a path to repentance and reconciliation. The call to "rear an altar" is a timeless invitation to humble ourselves, acknowledge our sin, and turn to God with specific acts of obedience and worship. While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, our "altar" today is a place of spiritual sacrifice: offering our lives as living sacrifices, engaging in sincere prayer, confessing our sins, and committing to follow God's will. It reminds us that true repentance is not just remorse, but a decisive turning toward God, marked by concrete actions that demonstrate our desire for restoration and our trust in His gracious provision for forgiveness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "plagues" or consequences in my life might be linked to unconfessed sin or disobedience, and how might God be calling me to "rear an altar" of repentance?**
* **In what ways can I offer a "spiritual sacrifice" or build an "altar" in my daily life that reflects genuine repentance and devotion to God?**
* **How does the specific location of the threshingfloor of Araunah, and its future significance, encourage me about God's long-term redemptive plan even in the midst of human failure?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command David to build an altar specifically at Araunah's threshingfloor?**

Answer: God commanded David to build the altar at Araunah's threshingfloor for several critical reasons. Firstly, this was the exact location where the angel of the LORD stopped the plague ([2 Samuel 24:16](/2-samuel/24-16 "2 Samuel 24:16 - The Angel Stops the Plague")). It marked the point of divine intervention and the cessation of judgment, making it a divinely designated sacred space. Secondly, it was a public and elevated place, suitable for a significant act of national atonement. Thirdly, and most prophetically, this very site would later become the location for Solomon's Temple ([2 Chronicles 3:1](/2-chronicles/3-1 "2 Chronicles 3:1 - Site of Solomon's Temple")), the permanent dwelling place of God's presence among His people. God was not only providing a means for immediate atonement but also providentially establishing the future center of Israelite worship.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of David's sin, the plague, and the divinely commanded altar at Araunah's threshingfloor finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. David's sin brought judgment upon the people, necessitating an altar and sacrifice for atonement. This foreshadows the greater reality that all humanity is under the curse of sin, requiring a perfect sacrifice. Just as the plague was stayed by God's mercy at a specific location, so too was God's wrath against sin fully appeased at a specific place and time: the cross of Calvary. Jesus Christ is the ultimate "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). He is both the perfect priest and the perfect sacrifice, offering Himself "once for all" ([Hebrews 7:27](/hebrews/7-27 "Hebrews 7:27 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")) to atone for our sins, rendering all subsequent animal sacrifices obsolete. The threshingfloor, a place of temporary atonement and a precursor to the Temple, points to Christ as the true Temple, the dwelling place of God, through whom we have direct access to the Father ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19-21 "John 2:19 - Jesus Predicts the Temple's Destruction and Resurrection") and [Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19-22 "Ephesians 2:19 - Built on the Foundation of Apostles and Prophets")). Our reconciliation with God is not achieved through our own works or animal sacrifices, but solely through faith in the finished work of Christ, who perfectly fulfilled all the requirements of the Law and bore the judgment we deserved, ushering in a new covenant of grace ([Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11 - Christ the High Priest of the New Covenant")).

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

1 Chronicles 21:18

¶ Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1 Chronicles 21:30

But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.

2 Samuel 24:11

For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,