2 Samuel 24:20

And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.

And Araunah {H728} looked {H8259}, and saw {H7200} the king {H4428} and his servants {H5650} coming on {H5674} toward him: and Araunah {H728} went out {H3318}, and bowed {H7812} himself before the king {H4428} on his face {H639} upon the ground {H776}.

Aravnah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him. Aravnah went out and prostrated himself before the king with his face to the ground.

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king.

And Araunah looked forth, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

Commentary

2 Samuel 24:20 describes the immediate and respectful response of Araunah (also known as Ornan in the book of Chronicles) upon seeing King David approach his threshingfloor. This verse is part of the climactic end of 2 Samuel, detailing David's sin of taking a census and the subsequent divine judgment and atonement.

Context

This verse occurs after King David's sin of numbering Israel, which brought a severe plague upon the nation. After the plague had killed 70,000 people, the LORD relented, and David was instructed by the prophet Gad to build an altar to the LORD on the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite (2 Samuel 24:18). David's arrival at Araunah's property was therefore a matter of urgent national significance, seeking to make atonement and stop the devastating pestilence. Araunah, a native inhabitant of Jerusalem (a Jebusite), owned this strategic piece of land, which would later become the site of Solomon's Temple.

Key Themes

  • Humility and Reverence: Araunah's action of bowing himself "on his face upon the ground" demonstrates profound respect and submission before King David. This was the customary posture of deep reverence in the ancient Near East, acknowledging David's royal authority and perhaps even his divine appointment.
  • Obedience to Authority: Araunah's immediate recognition and deference to the king, even before knowing David's purpose, highlights a respect for established leadership.
  • Divine Purpose: Unbeknownst to Araunah at first, his threshingfloor was divinely chosen as the place for sacrifice and atonement, marking it as a sacred site for future generations.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground" (Hebrew: יִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנָיו אַרְצָה - yippōl ‘al-pānāyw ’arṣāh) vividly describes a posture of extreme humility and adoration. It signifies complete submission and respect, a common gesture when approaching a monarch or deity. This wasn't merely a polite nod but a full prostration, indicating Araunah's deep regard for David's status as God's anointed king.

Related Scriptures

  • The full account of David's census and the plague begins in 2 Samuel 24:1.
  • Araunah's willingness to give his land and oxen for free is found in 2 Samuel 24:23, though David insists on paying for it (2 Samuel 24:24).
  • A parallel account of these events, where Araunah is called Ornan, can be found in 1 Chronicles 21:18-28.
  • The significance of this location as the future site of the Temple is detailed in 2 Chronicles 3:1, linking Araunah's threshingfloor to one of the most important religious sites in Israelite history.

Practical Application

Araunah's response serves as a powerful example of respect for authority and humility, even when one's own property or plans are interrupted. It reminds us of the importance of being receptive and obedient when God's purposes intersect with our lives. Furthermore, the willingness of both Araunah to offer and David to pay for the sacrifice highlights that true worship often involves personal cost and sacrifice, not merely convenience or cheap grace.

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Cross-References

  • Ruth 2:10 (2 votes)

    Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I [am] a stranger?

  • 1 Chronicles 21:20 (2 votes)

    And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:21 (2 votes)

    And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with [his] face to the ground.

  • 2 Samuel 9:8 (2 votes)

    And he bowed himself, and said, What [is] thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I [am]?

  • Genesis 18:2 (2 votes)

    And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw [them], he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,