2 Samuel 24:21

And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

And Araunah {H728} said {H559}, Wherefore is my lord {H113} the king {H4428} come {H935} to his servant {H5650}? And David {H1732} said {H559}, To buy {H7069} the threshingfloor {H1637} of thee, to build {H1129} an altar {H4196} unto the LORD {H3068}, that the plague {H4046} may be stayed {H6113} from the people {H5971}.

Then Aravnah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" David said, "To buy your threshing-floor, in order to build an altar to ADONAI, so that the plague will be lifted from the people."

“Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said. “To buy your threshing floor,” David replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar unto Jehovah, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

Commentary

In 2 Samuel 24:21, we witness a pivotal moment in King David's reign, as he seeks to atone for his sin and bring an end to a devastating plague afflicting Israel. This verse records the direct exchange between David and Araunah (also known as Ornan), a Jebusite landowner, regarding the purchase of his threshingfloor.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of King David's unauthorized census of Israel, an act that displeased the Lord and resulted in a severe plague across the land (2 Samuel 24:10). As the angel of the Lord was about to destroy Jerusalem, God relented and instructed the angel to stay his hand at the threshingfloor of Araunah. The prophet Gad then commanded David to build an altar to the LORD on this very site. Threshingfloors were typically open, elevated areas, suitable for processing grain, but also often used as places for public gatherings or, in this case, a sacred act of worship and sacrifice.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Repentance and Atonement: David's swift action to obey God's command to build an altar demonstrates immediate repentance for his sin. The purpose of the altar was to offer sacrifices that would bring atonement and cause the plague to cease, highlighting God's mercy in providing a way for reconciliation.
  • The Cost of True Worship: When Araunah offered the threshingfloor and oxen as a free gift, David famously declared, "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). This principle emphasizes that genuine worship and sacrifice should involve personal cost and value, reflecting a heart fully devoted to God.
  • Divine Intervention and Cessation of Judgment: The building of the altar and the offering of sacrifices were the means by which God chose to stop the plague, underscoring His sovereignty and His response to obedient faith and repentance.
  • Significance of the Location: This particular threshingfloor later became the chosen site for the construction of Solomon's Temple, the permanent dwelling place for the Ark of the Covenant and the center of Israelite worship (2 Chronicles 3:1). This elevates the humble threshingfloor to a place of immense spiritual importance.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "threshingfloor" is goren (גֹּרֶן), referring to a flat, open area, often paved, where grain was threshed. Its elevation made it ideal for catching wind to separate chaff from grain, and also for an altar.
  • The term "stayed" (from the Hebrew verb עָצַר, 'atsar) implies that the plague, which was a divine judgment, was actively restrained or held back by God's command, indicating His direct control over the calamity.

Practical Application

The account in 2 Samuel 24:21 and its broader context offers several timeless lessons:

  • Acknowledge and Confess Sin: Like David, we must recognize our transgressions and respond promptly to God's call for repentance.
  • Worship Requires Cost: True devotion to God often involves sacrifice—of time, resources, or personal comfort. Giving God our best, not just what is convenient or free, reflects a sincere heart.
  • God's Mercy and Provision: Even in judgment, God provides a path for reconciliation and offers mercy to those who humble themselves and seek Him.
  • The Sacredness of Place: While God is everywhere, there are times and places designated for special encounters and acts of worship that hold profound significance.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 24:18 (2 votes)

    ¶ 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.

  • Genesis 23:8 (2 votes)

    And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,

  • Genesis 23:16 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current [money] with the merchant.

  • Psalms 106:30 (2 votes)

    Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and [so] the plague was stayed.

  • 2 Samuel 24:3 (2 votes)

    And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?

  • Jeremiah 32:6 (2 votes)

    And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

  • Jeremiah 32:14 (2 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.