Araunah the Jebusite is one of the most compelling minor characters in the Old Testament, chiefly remembered not for his own achievements, but for a singular, significant transaction with King David that determined the future epicenter of Israelite worship. His story is recorded in the closing chapter of the Book of Second Samuel and the parallel account in the Book of First Chronicles (where he is called Ornan).
The Plague and the Purchase
The moment Araunah enters the scriptural narrative is during a period of divine judgment upon Israel. King David, having sinned by conducting an unauthorized census, brought a terrible plague upon the land (2 Samuel 24:15). After seventy thousand men had died, the LORD was moved to compassion, and the Angel of the LORD was instructed to cease the destruction.
The location where the Angel stood, holding his drawn sword over Jerusalem, was the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite.
“And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.” — 2 Samuel 24:16 (KJV)
The prophet Gad was then sent to David with a divine command:
“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.” — 2 Samuel 24:18 (KJV)
The Principle of Sacrifice
David immediately went to Araunah to purchase the site. Araunah, showing remarkable respect and generosity, willingly offered to give the king the entire property, including the oxen for the burnt offering and the threshing instruments for wood.
“And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and other instruments of the oxen for wood.” — 2 Samuel 24:22 (KJV)
However, David refused this gracious offer, establishing a profound theological principle regarding true worship and sacrifice:
“And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.” — 2 Samuel 24:24 (KJV)
By insisting on paying a price, David ensured that the sacrifice was truly his own, made at personal cost, and thus fully representative of his penitence and submission to God.
The Site of the Temple
The ultimate significance of Araunah’s threshingfloor lies in its future destiny. Having built the altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, David stayed the plague. The place chosen by God to stop the judgment and accept the sacrifice was consecrated.
This threshingfloor, situated on Mount Moriah, was the very location upon which David’s son, Solomon, would later construct the magnificent Temple of the LORD:
“Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.” — 2 Chronicles 3:1 (KJV)
In this way, Araunah, the humble Jebusite who owned a common patch of ground outside the city walls, is immortalized as the man who sold the piece of land that became the Temple Mount, the designated place where God’s name would dwell among His people.