Araunah the Jebusite's threshing floor holds significant historical and theological importance in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of King David's reign and the establishment of the future site of the Temple in Jerusalem. This location is mentioned primarily in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

Biblical Context and Narrative

The account of Araunah's threshing floor is found in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. The narrative begins with King David's decision to conduct a census of Israel and Judah, an action that displeased God. As a result, God sent a plague upon Israel as a form of judgment. In response to David's plea for mercy, God instructed the prophet Gad to tell David to build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:18-19 states: "That day Gad came to David and said to him, 'Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.' So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded."

The Purchase of the Threshing Floor

David approached Araunah to purchase the threshing floor to build the altar. Araunah offered to give the site to David for free, along with oxen for the burnt offering and threshing sledges for wood. However, David insisted on purchasing it, emphasizing the principle of offering to God that which costs something.

2 Samuel 24:24 records David's response: "But the king replied to Araunah, 'No, I insist on paying you for it, 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."

Significance of the Site

The threshing floor of Araunah is traditionally identified with Mount Moriah, the site where Abraham was to offer Isaac (Genesis 22) and where Solomon would later build the Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). This location thus becomes a central place of worship and sacrifice in Israel's history, symbolizing obedience, repentance, and the establishment of a permanent dwelling place for God's presence among His people.

Theological Implications

The account of Araunah's threshing floor underscores themes of repentance, sacrifice, and divine mercy. David's insistence on paying for the site highlights the importance of genuine sacrifice in worship. The cessation of the plague upon the offering of sacrifices on this site illustrates God's readiness to forgive and restore His people when they turn to Him in humility and obedience.

Furthermore, the transition from a place of judgment to a site of worship foreshadows the redemptive work of Christ, who transforms places of sin and judgment into opportunities for grace and reconciliation. The eventual construction of the Temple on this site signifies God's desire to dwell among His people and the centrality of worship in the life of Israel.