Bible Figure
Araunah
male human biblical figure in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21
Araunah was the Jebusite owner of the threshing floor David purchased as the site for an altar after the plague following David's census.
Biography
Second Samuel 24 recounts David seeing the angel of the Lord near Araunah's threshing floor after judgment fell on Israel. Gad instructed David to build an altar there. Araunah offered the king the threshing floor, oxen, and implements without charge, but David insisted on paying because he would not offer to the Lord sacrifices that cost him nothing. David built the altar, offered sacrifices, and the plague was halted. First Chronicles calls the owner Ornan and identifies the location with the future Temple site.
Biblical Significance
Araunah's threshing floor became a crucial link between David's repentance and the location of Solomon's Temple. His story also preserves David's memorable principle that genuine sacrifice should not be costless.