Background and Identity:
Araunah, also known as Ornan in some biblical texts, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, specifically in the narrative concerning King David. He is identified as a Jebusite, one of the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before it was conquered by David. The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe, and their presence in Jerusalem is noted in several biblical passages. Araunah's interaction with David is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, as it leads to the establishment of the site for the future Temple.

Biblical Account:
The primary account of Araunah is found in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. In 2 Samuel 24, King David, having sinned by conducting a census of Israel, is given a choice of three punishments by the prophet Gad. David chooses a plague, which results in the death of 70,000 men. As the angel of the LORD is about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relents, and David is instructed to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to halt the plague.

2 Samuel 24:18-25 describes the encounter: "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. When Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. 'Why has my lord the king come to his servant?' Araunah said. 'To buy your threshing floor,' David replied, 'so that I can build an altar to the LORD, that the plague on the people may be halted.' Araunah said to David, 'My lord the king may take whatever seems good to him and offer it up. Here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king.' Araunah also said to him, 'May the LORD your God accept you.' 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. And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was halted."

Significance:
Araunah's threshing floor is of immense theological and historical importance. It is traditionally identified as the site where Solomon would later build the Temple, as noted in 2 Chronicles 3:1: "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the site that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."

The narrative highlights several key themes in biblical theology. First, it underscores the importance of sacrificial offerings that are costly and sincere, as demonstrated by David's refusal to offer to God that which cost him nothing. Second, it illustrates God's mercy and the power of intercession, as the plague is halted following David's obedience and sacrifice. Lastly, it sets the stage for the establishment of the Temple, a central place of worship for Israel and a symbol of God's presence among His people.

Character and Legacy:
Araunah is portrayed as a generous and willing participant in the divine plan, offering his property and resources freely to the king. His actions reflect a recognition of the LORD's sovereignty and the importance of supporting the king's efforts to appease God's wrath. Araunah's legacy is thus intertwined with the sacred history of Jerusalem and the Temple, marking him as a notable figure in the biblical narrative.