David’s willingness to personally purchase the threshing floor emphasizes the value of genuine repentance.
In this passage, we see Araunah’s surprise at David’s unexpected visit woven into the text: “Then Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’ And David said, ‘To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be held back from the people.” (v.21). At this moment, David is near the end of his reign (1010-970 BC), having led Israel through triumphs and trials. Araunah, a Jebusite who lived in Jerusalem, owned a threshing floor located on elevated ground. Traditionally, many believe this land would later become the site of the Temple, connecting David’s act of worship with the larger story of Israel’s communion with God (2 Chronicles 3:1).
David’s request “to buy the threshing floor” (v.21) reveals his intention to honor the LORD by building an altar. Previously, David’s disobedience in commanding a census (2 Samuel 24:1-10) had resulted in a devastating plague upon the people. By seeking to “build an altar to the LORD” (v.21), David demonstrates a repentant heart, acknowledging that genuine worship should come with a price rather than relying on the generosity of others. In so doing, he hopes to bring a swift end “that the plague may be held back from the people” (v.21), pointing to the truth that sacrifice can bring restoration and healing, a theme that later echoes through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross (Romans 5:18-19).
Araunah's question “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” (v.21) suggests his humility before David, but the king’s reply underscores both David’s contrition and leadership. David’s readiness to build an altar at his own expense illustrates a deeper spiritual principle: worship costs us something, a principle that foreshadows the ultimate sacrificial offering by Christ in the New Testament (Hebrews 10:10-12). This event takes place in Jerusalem, the historic City of David, emphasizing the significance of this location as the heart of Israel’s communal life and worship.
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2 Samuel 24:21 meaning
In this passage, we see Araunah’s surprise at David’s unexpected visit woven into the text: “Then Araunah said, ‘Why has my lord the king come to his servant?’ And David said, ‘To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be held back from the people.” (v.21). At this moment, David is near the end of his reign (1010-970 BC), having led Israel through triumphs and trials. Araunah, a Jebusite who lived in Jerusalem, owned a threshing floor located on elevated ground. Traditionally, many believe this land would later become the site of the Temple, connecting David’s act of worship with the larger story of Israel’s communion with God (2 Chronicles 3:1).
David’s request “to buy the threshing floor” (v.21) reveals his intention to honor the LORD by building an altar. Previously, David’s disobedience in commanding a census (2 Samuel 24:1-10) had resulted in a devastating plague upon the people. By seeking to “build an altar to the LORD” (v.21), David demonstrates a repentant heart, acknowledging that genuine worship should come with a price rather than relying on the generosity of others. In so doing, he hopes to bring a swift end “that the plague may be held back from the people” (v.21), pointing to the truth that sacrifice can bring restoration and healing, a theme that later echoes through Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross (Romans 5:18-19).
Araunah's question “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” (v.21) suggests his humility before David, but the king’s reply underscores both David’s contrition and leadership. David’s readiness to build an altar at his own expense illustrates a deeper spiritual principle: worship costs us something, a principle that foreshadows the ultimate sacrificial offering by Christ in the New Testament (Hebrews 10:10-12). This event takes place in Jerusalem, the historic City of David, emphasizing the significance of this location as the heart of Israel’s communal life and worship.