David Buys Araunah’s Threshing Floor
November 12, 2021
Commentary
In response to David’s urgent prayer, the angel of the Lord orders the prophet Gad to tell David to “Go up” to Araunah’s threshing floor. There David is to build an altar to the Lord (v. 18). He obeys as the Lord has commanded (v. 19). Araunah sees the King and his servants coming toward him and goes out to met him. He pays homage to David by bowing down before him with his face to the ground (v. 20), calling himself David’s servant (v. 21). Then David tells Araunah he has come to buy the threshing floor and build an altar to the Lord, so the plaque will be withdrawn from the people.
Although they were usually used as draft animals, oxen were also commonly sacrificed as burnt offerings and fellowship offerings (v. 22). David said he will not sacrifice to the Lord burnt offerings that cost him nothing (v. 23). So he pays Araunah fifty shekels of silver for both the threshing floor and the oxen and he builds an altar on it (v. 24). He then sacrifices his offerings as a means of seeking divine favor. The sword is put back in its sheath and judgment is stopped (v. 25). Although David seems to be content in building the altar on the threshing floor, Solomon would eventually build the temple there on the hill called Moriah (II Chron. 3:1).
Application
I am so thankful that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for me in that He paid the debt for my sins.
2 Samuel 24:18– 25 (NET)
18 So Gad went to David that day and told him, “Go up and build an altar for the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 19 So David went up as Gad instructed him to do, according to the Lord’s instructions.
20 When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching him, he went out and bowed to the king with his face to the ground. 21 Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David replied, “To buy from you the threshing floor so I can build an altar for the Lord, so that the plague may be removed from the people.” 22 Araunah told David, “My lord the king may take whatever he wishes and offer it. Look! Here are oxen for burnt offerings, and threshing sledges and harnesses for wood. 23 I, the servant of my lord the king, give it all to the king!” Araunah also told the king, “May the Lord your God show you favor!” 24 But the king said to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it from you! I will not offer to the Lord my God burnt sacrifices that cost me nothing.”
25 Then David built an altar for the Lord there and offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings. And the Lord accepted prayers for the land, and the plague was removed from Israel.