The Threshing Floor of Araunah the Jebusite holds significant historical and theological importance in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of King David's reign and the establishment of the Temple in Jerusalem. This site is mentioned primarily in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, where it serves as the location for a pivotal event in Israel's history.

Biblical Context and Narrative

The account of the threshing floor is set during a time when King David, incited by Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1) or moved by the LORD's anger (2 Samuel 24:1), conducts a census of Israel and Judah. This act displeases God, leading to a divine judgment upon the nation. As a result, God offers David three choices for punishment: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of plague. David chooses the plague, and as the angel of the LORD is about to destroy Jerusalem, God relents and commands the angel to stop at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Purchase and Sacrifice

Recognizing the significance of the site, David approaches Araunah to purchase the threshing floor to build an altar to the LORD, in order to halt the plague. Araunah offers the site and the necessary materials for the sacrifice freely, but David insists on buying it, stating, "I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing" (2 Samuel 24:24). David purchases the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver, according to 2 Samuel, or six hundred shekels of gold for the site, according to 1 Chronicles 21:25, which may reflect a broader transaction including the surrounding area.

David builds an altar there and offers burnt offerings and peace offerings. The LORD responds to the plea for the land, and the plague is averted. This act of worship and obedience marks the site as a place of divine mercy and intervention.

Significance in Israel's History

The threshing floor of Araunah is traditionally identified with Mount Moriah, the location where Abraham was to offer Isaac (Genesis 22:2) and where Solomon would later build the Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). This connection underscores the site's enduring significance as a place of sacrifice and divine presence.

Theologically, the event at Araunah's threshing floor highlights themes of repentance, atonement, and the cost of true worship. David's insistence on paying for the site emphasizes the principle that genuine worship requires personal sacrifice and commitment.

Legacy and Theological Implications

The purchase of the threshing floor and the subsequent construction of the Temple by Solomon establish the site as the central place of worship for Israel, where God's presence dwells among His people. It becomes the focal point for Israel's religious life and the symbol of God's covenantal relationship with His chosen nation.

In Christian theology, the site foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, offers Himself for the atonement of sin. The themes of sacrifice, mercy, and divine intervention at the threshing floor resonate with the New Testament message of redemption through Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection.