Ornan the Jebusite, also known as Araunah in some biblical translations, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, particularly in the narrative concerning King David's acquisition of the threshing floor, which later became the site for Solomon's Temple. Ornan is mentioned in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles.

Background and Identity

Ornan was a Jebusite, a member of the ancient Canaanite inhabitants of Jerusalem before its conquest by King David. The Jebusites were known to have occupied the fortified city of Jebus, which David captured and renamed Jerusalem, establishing it as the political and spiritual center of Israel (2 Samuel 5:6-9).

The Threshing Floor Incident

The most notable account involving Ornan is found in 1 Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24. This narrative occurs after David, incited by Satan, conducts a census of Israel, which displeases God. As a result, God sends a plague upon Israel as a punishment. In response to David's plea for mercy, God commands him through the prophet Gad to build an altar 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 that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD."

David's Purchase of the Threshing Floor

When David approaches Ornan to purchase the threshing floor, Ornan offers it to David for free, along with oxen for the burnt offering and threshing sledges for wood. However, David insists on buying it at full price, emphasizing the principle of offering to God that which costs him something.

1 Chronicles 21:24 records David's response: "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."

David ultimately purchases the site for six hundred shekels of gold (1 Chronicles 21:25), and he builds an altar there, offering sacrifices to the LORD. The LORD responds to David's offerings by halting the plague, signifying His acceptance and mercy.

Significance of the Site

The threshing floor of Ornan holds profound significance in biblical history. It is identified as the location where Solomon, David's son, would later build the First Temple, also known as Solomon's Temple. This site, Mount Moriah, is traditionally associated with the location where Abraham was prepared to offer Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:2).

Legacy

Ornan the Jebusite's interaction with David highlights themes of repentance, sacrifice, and divine mercy. His willingness to offer his property for the service of God, and David's insistence on paying for it, underscore the importance of genuine sacrifice in worship. The site of Ornan's threshing floor becomes a central place of worship and a symbol of God's covenant with Israel, marking it as a pivotal location in the biblical narrative.