The Threshing Floor of Araunah holds significant historical and theological importance in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of King David's reign. This site is prominently mentioned in the books of 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, where it becomes the focal point of a pivotal event in Israel's history.

Biblical Account

The account of the Threshing Floor of Araunah is primarily found in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21. In 2 Samuel 24, King David, incited by Satan, orders a census of Israel and Judah, which displeases God. As a result, God sends a plague upon Israel as a punishment. When David realizes his sin, he seeks to make amends and is instructed by the prophet Gad to build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

2 Samuel 24:18-19 states: "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 approaches Araunah to purchase the threshing floor to build the altar. Araunah offers to give it to David for free, along with oxen for the burnt offering. However, David insists on buying it, stating that he will not offer to the LORD that which costs him nothing. This transaction is recorded in 2 Samuel 24:24 : "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."

Theological Significance

The Threshing Floor of Araunah is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrates David's repentance and his understanding of sacrificial worship. David's insistence on paying for the threshing floor underscores the principle that true worship involves personal sacrifice and cost.

Secondly, this site is traditionally identified with Mount Moriah, where Abraham was to offer Isaac (Genesis 22) and where Solomon later built the Temple (2 Chronicles 3:1). Thus, the Threshing Floor of Araunah is integrally connected to the theme of sacrifice and worship in Israel's history.

Symbolism and Typology

The threshing floor itself is a symbol of judgment and purification, where grain is separated from chaff. This imagery is often used in Scripture to depict God's judgment and the refining of His people. The events at Araunah's threshing floor prefigure the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who, like David, offered Himself willingly and at great cost.

Historical Context

Araunah, also known as Ornan in 1 Chronicles, was a Jebusite, one of the original inhabitants of Jerusalem before David's conquest of the city. The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe, and Araunah's presence in the narrative highlights the transition of Jerusalem from a Jebusite stronghold to the religious and political center of Israel under David.

Legacy

The purchase of the Threshing Floor of Araunah by David laid the foundation for the future site of the Temple, making it a place of profound spiritual significance for the Israelites. It became a symbol of God's mercy and forgiveness, as the plague was halted following David's sacrifice, and it set the stage for the establishment of the Temple, where God's presence would dwell among His people.