2 Samuel 24:21
New International Version
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” “To buy your threshing floor,” David answered, “so I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be stopped.”

New Living Translation
“Why have you come, my lord the king?” Araunah asked. David replied, “I have come to buy your threshing floor and to build an altar to the LORD there, so that he will stop the plague.”

English Standard Version
And Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be averted from the people.”

Berean Standard Bible
“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.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”

New American Standard Bible
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And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”

NASB 1995
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.”

NASB 1977
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.”

Legacy Standard Bible
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 Yahweh, that the plague may be checked from being upon the people.”

Amplified Bible
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be held back from the people.”

Christian Standard Bible
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant? ” David replied, “To buy the threshing floor from you in order to build an altar to the LORD, so the plague on the people may be halted.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David replied, “To buy the threshing floor from you in order to build an altar to the LORD, so the plague on the people may be halted.”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
and said, "Your Majesty! Why have you come to see me?" David answered, "I've come to buy your threshing place. I have to build the LORD an altar here, so this disease will stop killing the people."

English Revised Version
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 the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Why has Your Majesty come to me?" Araunah asked. David answered, "To buy the threshing floor from you and to build an altar for the LORD. Then the plague on the people will stop."

Good News Translation
and asked, "Your Majesty, why are you here?" David answered, "To buy your threshing place and build an altar for the LORD, in order to stop the epidemic."

International Standard Version
and asked him, "Why has your majesty the king come to his servant?" David replied, "To purchase your threshing floor and to build an altar to the LORD, so the pestilence can be averted from the people."

Majority Standard Bible
?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.?

NET Bible
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."

New Heart English Bible
And Araunah said, "Why has my lord the king come to his servant?" And David said, "To buy this threshing floor from you to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be held back from the people."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing-floor of thee, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

World English Bible
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Araunah says, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David says, “To buy the threshing-floor from you, to build an altar to YHWH, and the plague is restrained from the people.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Araunah saith, 'Wherefore hath my lord the king come unto his servant?' and David saith, 'To buy from thee the threshing-floor, to build an altar to Jehovah, and the plague is restrained from the people.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Araunah will say, Wherefore came my lord the king to his servant? and David will say, To buy from thee the threshing-floor to build an altar to Jehovah, and the slaughter shall be withheld from above the people.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
An going out he worshipped the king, bowing with his face to the earth, and said: Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? Arid David said to him: To buy the thrashingfloor of thee, and build an altar to the Lord, that the plague, which rageth among the people, may cease.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And going out, he adored the king, lying prone with his face to the ground, and he said, “What is the reason that my lord the king has come to his servant?” And David said to him, “So as to purchase the threshing floor from you, and to build an altar to the Lord, and to quiet the plague that rages among the people.”

New American Bible
Then Araunah asked, “Why does my lord the king come to his servant?” David replied, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be withdrawn from the people.”

New Revised Standard Version
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you in order to build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague may be averted from the people.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Aran said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? And David said to him, To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said: “Why has my Lord the King come to his Servant?” And David said: “To buy from you the granary to build an altar to LORD JEHOVAH, and the plague will be stopped from the people”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Orna said, Why has my lord the king come to his servant? and David said, To buy of thee the threshing-floor, in order to build an altar to the Lord that the plague may be restrained from off the people.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Builds an Altar
20When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. 21“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.” 22Araunah said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good and offer it up. Here are the oxen for a burnt offering and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.…

Cross References
1 Chronicles 21:22
Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”

Genesis 23:11-16
“No, my lord. Listen to me. I give you the field, and I give you the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of my people. Bury your dead.” / Again Abraham bowed down before the people of the land / and said to Ephron in their presence, “If you will please listen to me, I will pay you the price of the field. Accept it from me, so that I may bury my dead there.” ...

1 Kings 21:2
So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place—or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

1 Chronicles 21:24
“No,” replied King David, “I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you, nor will I offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

2 Samuel 24:24
“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

1 Kings 21:3
But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

1 Kings 21:6
Ahab answered, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ And he replied, ‘I will not give you my vineyard!’”

1 Kings 21:15
When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

1 Kings 21:16
And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

1 Kings 21:19
Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

1 Kings 21:25
(Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.

1 Chronicles 21:18-19
Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. / So David went up at the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.

1 Chronicles 21:26
And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.

1 Chronicles 21:28
At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he offered sacrifices there.

1 Chronicles 21:29
For the tabernacle of the LORD that Moses had made in the wilderness and the altar of burnt offering were presently at the high place in Gibeon,


Treasury of Scripture

And Araunah said, Why is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshing floor of you, to build an altar to the LORD, that the plague may be stayed from the people.

Wherefore

2 Samuel 24:3,18
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? …

To buy

Genesis 23:8-16
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, …

1 Chronicles 21:22
Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

Jeremiah 32:6-14
And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, …

the plague

2 Samuel 21:3-14
Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? …

Numbers 16:47-50
And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people…

Numbers 25:8
And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Afflicting Altar Araunah Arau'nah Averted Build Buy David Disease Floor Grain-Floor Held Order Plague Price Restrained Servant Stopped Threshing Threshingfloor Threshing-Floor Wherefore
Jump to Next
Afflicting Altar Araunah Arau'nah Averted Build Buy David Disease Floor Grain-Floor Held Order Plague Price Restrained Servant Stopped Threshing Threshingfloor Threshing-Floor Wherefore
2 Samuel 24
1. David, tempted by Satan, forces Joab to number the people
5. The captains, in nine months and twenty days, gather 1,300,000 fighting men
10. David repents, and having three plagues proposed by God, chooses pestilence
15. After the death of 70,000, David by prayer prevents the destruction of Jerusalem
18. David, by God's direction, purchases Araunah's threshing floor;
25. and the plague stops














“Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said.
Araunah, a Jebusite, addresses King David with respect, acknowledging his authority. The Jebusites were the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered the city (2 Samuel 5:6-9). Araunah's question reflects the cultural norms of hospitality and deference to royalty. His use of "my lord" and "his servant" indicates a hierarchical relationship, common in ancient Near Eastern societies. This encounter occurs after David's census of Israel, which led to a divine judgment in the form of a plague (2 Samuel 24:1-15).

“To buy your threshing floor,” David replied,
David's intention to purchase the threshing floor highlights the importance of this location. Threshing floors were open, flat areas used for separating grain from chaff, often situated on elevated ground to catch the wind. This particular site would later become the location of Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1), making it a significant place in biblical history. David's insistence on buying the land, rather than accepting it as a gift, underscores the principle of sacrifice; he would not offer to God something that cost him nothing (2 Samuel 24:24).

“that I may build an altar to the LORD,”
Building an altar signifies an act of worship and atonement. In the Old Testament, altars were places where sacrifices were made to God, symbolizing repentance and seeking divine favor. David's desire to build an altar here is a response to the plague, seeking to appease God's wrath. This act prefigures the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who would atone for the sins of humanity (Hebrews 10:10-12).

“so that the plague upon the people may be halted.”
The plague was a direct consequence of David's sin in conducting a census, which was seen as an act of pride and reliance on military strength rather than on God (1 Chronicles 21:1-7). The cessation of the plague upon the building of the altar and offering of sacrifices demonstrates God's mercy and the power of intercessory acts. This event foreshadows the concept of Christ as the mediator who halts the plague of sin through His sacrifice (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The King of Israel, who seeks to build an altar to the LORD to stop a plague affecting his people.

2. Araunah
A Jebusite who owns the threshing floor that David wishes to purchase for building the altar.

3. Threshing Floor
The location owned by Araunah, which David intends to buy to construct an altar.

4. The LORD
The God of Israel, whom David seeks to appease by building an altar.

5. The Plague
A divine punishment affecting Israel, which David aims to halt through sacrifice and repentance.
Teaching Points
The Cost of True Worship
True worship often requires personal sacrifice. David insists on paying for the threshing floor, emphasizing that worship should cost us something.

Repentance and Restoration
David's actions demonstrate the importance of repentance and seeking God's mercy to restore what has been broken by sin.

Leadership and Responsibility
As a leader, David takes responsibility for his actions and seeks to rectify the situation, setting an example of accountability.

God's Mercy in Judgment
Even in judgment, God provides a way for mercy. The opportunity to build an altar signifies God's willingness to forgive.

The Role of Obedience in Faith
David's obedience in building the altar reflects a heart aligned with God's will, showing that faith is demonstrated through action.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Why
מַדּ֛וּעַ (mad·dū·a‘)
Interrogative
Strong's 4069: Why? for what reason?

has my lord
אֲדֹנִֽי־ (’ă·ḏō·nî-)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

the king
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

come
בָּ֥א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his servant?”
עַבְדּ֑וֹ (‘aḇ·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

Araunah
אֲרַ֔וְנָה (’ă·raw·nāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 728: Araunah -- a Jebusite

said.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“To buy
לִקְנ֧וֹת (liq·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7069: To erect, create, to procure, by purchase, to own

your threshing floor,”
הַגֹּ֗רֶן (hag·gō·ren)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1637: A threshing-floor, open area

David
דָּוִ֜ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

replied,
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“that I may build
לִבְנ֤וֹת (liḇ·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1129: To build

an altar
מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ (miz·bê·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

to the LORD,
לַֽיהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

so that the plague
הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה (ham·mag·gê·p̄āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4046: A blow, slaughter, plague, pestilence

on
מֵעַ֥ל (mê·‘al)
Preposition-m
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the people
הָעָֽם׃ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

may be halted.”
וְתֵעָצַ֥ר (wə·ṯê·‘ā·ṣar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6113: To inclose, to hold back, to maintain, rule, assemble


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OT History: 2 Samuel 24:21 Araunah said Why is my lord (2Sa iiSam 2 Sam ii sam)
2 Samuel 24:20
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