2 Samuel 24:21
“Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” David said, “To buy your threshing floor, to build an altar to Yahweh, that the plague may be stopped from afflicting the people.””
What does 2 Samuel 24:21 mean?
David is asking to purchase Araunah's threshing floor so he can build an altar there. He's hoping that making an offering to God will end a devastating plague that's killing his people, a consequence of David's decision to count Israel's fighting men (which God had forbidden). What's striking here is that David doesn't make excuses or delay. He recognizes his mistake has brought suffering to others, and he's willing to pay a real price to make it right. He's not looking for a free gift or a shortcut, but asking to buy the land outright, because genuine repentance isn't cheap or easy. His urgency reflects both his grief over the plague and his determination to do whatever it takes to turn things around.