2 Samuel 24:18

¶ 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.

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}.

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."

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.”

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

Context of 2 Samuel 24:18

This verse marks a pivotal moment following King David's unauthorized census, an act of pride that incurred God's judgment upon Israel in the form of a devastating plague (2 Samuel 24:15). The plague ceased when the angel of the Lord, poised over Jerusalem, was commanded to stop (2 Samuel 24:16). Immediately, the prophet Gad, God's messenger, came to David with direct divine instruction. This instruction was not merely a suggestion, but a command for David to perform a specific act of worship and atonement to solidify the end of the judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Instruction and Obedience: The verse highlights the importance of immediate and precise obedience to God's commands, especially in times of crisis or repentance. God provided the exact location and action required for reconciliation.
  • Atonement and Sacrifice: Building an altar and offering sacrifices was the prescribed method for seeking God's forgiveness and appeasing His wrath in the Old Testament. This act was essential for the restoration of relationship between God and His people after David's sin.
  • The Significance of Place: The "threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite" is not a random location. It was the precise spot where the angel of the Lord stopped the plague. This site, purchased by David, would later become the hallowed ground for Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, the permanent dwelling place for God's presence among His people.
  • God's Mercy and Forgiveness: Despite David's grievous sin, God provided a path to repentance and cessation of judgment, demonstrating His enduring mercy and willingness to forgive when His people humble themselves and obey.

Linguistic and Cultural Insights

The term "threshingfloor" (Hebrew: goren) was a common, open-air, elevated area where grain was threshed and winnowed. It was often a place of public activity. Spiritually, threshingfloors can symbolize places of judgment (separating wheat from chaff) or divine encounter, as seen here. The fact that it belonged to "Araunah the Jebusite" is significant. The Jebusites were the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered it. David's purchase of this land from a non-Israelite for a holy purpose underscores the idea that God's plan transcends ethnic boundaries and prepares the way for a universal place of worship.

Practical Application and Significance

2 Samuel 24:18 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It underscores that true repentance involves not just remorse, but also decisive action and obedience to God's will. When we acknowledge our sin and seek God's forgiveness, He often provides clear direction for reconciliation and restoration. The verse also reminds us that acts of worship and sacrifice, though no longer animal sacrifices under the new covenant established by Christ, are still vital for expressing our devotion and seeking God's face. Our "altar" today might be a place of prayer, service, or personal surrender, where we offer our lives as a "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).

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Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 21:18 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

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