Ornan, also known as Araunah, is a significant biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of King David's reign. He is identified as a Jebusite, a member of the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before it was conquered by the Israelites. Ornan's account is pivotal in the narrative of David's establishment of Jerusalem as the political and spiritual center of Israel.

Biblical Account

The primary account of Ornan is found in 1 Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24. In these passages, King David, incited by Satan, conducts a census of Israel, which displeases God. As a result, God sends a plague upon Israel as a punishment. To halt the plague, David is instructed by the prophet Gad to build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

1 Chronicles 21:18-19 states: "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 of Gad, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD."

When David approaches Ornan to purchase the threshing floor, Ornan offers it to David for free, along with oxen for the burnt offerings and threshing sledges for wood. However, David insists on buying it at full price, emphasizing the importance of offering sacrifices that cost him something. This transaction is recorded in 1 Chronicles 21:24 : "But King David replied to Ornan, 'No, 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.'"

David purchases the site for six hundred shekels of gold, and the altar is built, leading to the cessation of the plague. This site later becomes the location for 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. It was on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, the place provided by David."

Theological Significance

Ornan's threshing floor holds profound theological significance as the future site of the Temple, the central place of worship for the Israelites. The narrative underscores themes of repentance, sacrifice, and divine mercy. David's insistence on paying for the threshing floor highlights the principle that true worship and sacrifice require personal cost and commitment.

The account of Ornan also illustrates the transition of Jerusalem from a Jebusite city to the heart of Israelite worship and governance. Ornan's willingness to give his property for the purpose of worship reflects a recognition of the God of Israel's sovereignty, even among the non-Israelite inhabitants of the land.

Cultural and Historical Context

As a Jebusite, Ornan represents the indigenous people of the region before Israel's conquest. The Jebusites were one of the Canaanite tribes inhabiting the land prior to its occupation by the Israelites. The peaceful interaction between David and Ornan suggests a level of coexistence and mutual respect between the Israelites and the remaining Jebusite population.

The threshing floor itself is a significant agricultural site, used for separating grain from chaff. Its elevated location made it an ideal place for such activities, and its selection as the site for the Temple underscores the transformation of ordinary places into sacred spaces through divine purpose and human obedience.

Conclusion

Ornan, or Araunah, is a figure whose brief appearance in the biblical narrative carries lasting implications for the history and theology of Israel. His interaction with King David and the subsequent establishment of the Temple site highlight the themes of sacrifice, divine intervention, and the sanctification of the land for God's purposes.2 Samuel 24:16-25
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.
Nave's Topical Index

One Worker Preparing for Another
... was commanded to go to Ornan, or Araunah, the Jebusite ... So David gave to Ornan for
the place six hundred ... burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the ...
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Who was Araunah the Jebusite? | GotQuestions.org

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