Araunah

ARAUNAH or Ornan. During the Pestilence which ravaged Jerusalem, the 1 Chron. xxi. 18. & seq. and 2 Sam. xxiv. 18.Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to bid David come and raise an Altar to the Lord, in the Threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite. Araunah was probably an old inhabitant of Jerusalem, whose Habitation and Threshing-floor were upon Mount Moria, where afterwards the Temple of Jerusalem was built. David therefore went immediately towards the place of Araunah’s abode, with a design to execute the Lord’s order. As soon as Araunah perceived him, he ran to meet him, threw himself prostrate before him, and asked what it was that he desired of him. David told him, he came to buy his Threshing-floor, with an intention to erect There an Altar to the Lord, that so he might be pleased to put a stop to the Plague, which made great havock among the people. Araunah offered him not only the Threshing-floor, but wood likewise and oxen for a burnt Sacrifice. But the King would not accept them, till he told him what the price of them should be; for said he, God forbid that I should offer unto the Lord of that which cost me nothing. David therefore bought the Threshing-floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver, or as the Chronicles have it, six hundred shekels of gold. Concerning this diversity, the exposition of Interpreters may be consulted.

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