Topical Bible: Jerusalem: The Threshing Floor of Araunah Within the Citadel of

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The Threshing Floor of Araunah, also known as Ornan in some biblical accounts, holds significant historical and theological importance within the narrative of Jerusalem. This site is intricately linked to the establishment of the city as a central place of worship and governance in ancient Israel.

Biblical Account and Historical Context

The account of the Threshing Floor of Araunah is primarily found in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. The narrative begins with King David's decision to conduct a census of Israel, an act that incurred divine displeasure. As a result, God sent a plague upon Israel, leading to the death of 70,000 men. In response to David's plea for mercy, God instructed the prophet Gad to tell David to erect an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:18-19 states: "And 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."

David approached Araunah to purchase the site, insisting on paying the full price to ensure that his offering to the LORD would not be made with that which cost him nothing. Araunah offered the site and the oxen for free, but David replied, "No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer a burnt offering that costs me nothing" (1 Chronicles 21:24).

Theological Significance

The Threshing Floor of Araunah is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it marks a pivotal moment of repentance and atonement for David and the nation of Israel. David's purchase and subsequent sacrifice on the site halted the plague, symbolizing God's mercy and forgiveness.

Secondly, this location is traditionally identified as the future site of Solomon's 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 place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite." This connection underscores the site's enduring significance as a place of divine encounter and worship.

Cultural and Religious Impact

The Threshing Floor of Araunah within the citadel of Jerusalem became a focal point for Israelite worship and identity. As the site of the First Temple, it served as the spiritual heart of the nation, where sacrifices were offered, and the presence of God was believed to dwell. The Temple's construction on this site fulfilled God's promise to David regarding a permanent dwelling place for His name in Jerusalem.

Throughout history, the location has remained a symbol of God's covenant with Israel and His enduring presence among His people. The events surrounding the Threshing Floor of Araunah highlight themes of repentance, divine mercy, and the establishment of a central place of worship, which continue to resonate within the Judeo-Christian tradition.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand on 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 your hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.
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Library

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... and not so securely entrenched within their fortresses as ... of Adoni-zedeck, King of
Jerusalem, the Canaanites ... is a generic term, meaning citadel or stronghold ...
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