1 Chronicles 21:18-27

Why does David insist on paying Ornan for the place of sacrifice?

Berean Standard Bible

18 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. 19 So David went up at the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat when he turned and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 David came to Ornan, and when Ornan looked out and saw David, he left the threshing floor and bowed facedown before David. 22 Then David said to Ornan, “Grant me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build an altar to the LORD. Sell it to me for the full price, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.” 23 Ornan said to David, “Take it! May my lord the king do whatever seems good to him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering—I will give it all.” 24 “No,” replied King David, “I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you, nor will I offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan six hundred shekels of gold for the site. 26 And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He called upon the LORD, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the LORD spoke to the angel, who put his sword back into its sheath.

What is the context?

Gad directs David to build an altar on Ornan’s threshing floor. Ornan sees the angel, and his sons hide; when David arrives, Ornan offers the site, animals, wood, and grain.

David insists on the full price because he will not take another man’s property for the Lord or present offerings that cost him nothing. He pays for the site and offers burnt offerings and peace offerings.

The Lord answers with fire, and the angel puts away the sword. The narrative presents the altar in relation to the halted judgment and accepted appeal, not as a technique by which money can purchase immunity from suffering.

How is this passage commonly understood?

Wesley sees the commanded altar as a sign of reconciliation. 2 Samuel 24:18–25 gives the related purchase and offerings, but reports fifty shekels of silver rather than Chronicles’ six hundred shekels of gold. The USCCB note interprets Chronicles’ larger figure through the site’s importance. That is an interpretation of the difference, not proof that the two accounts report an identical price.

Where does this fit in God's plan?

Hebrews 9:11–14, 24–28 develops the wider theme of accepted sacrifice and access to God through Christ’s own offering, made once for all. Wesley also connects the accepted sacrifice here with Christ. Hebrews does not directly identify this fire as a prediction of the cross, and the connection should keep Jesus’ unique offering distinct from David’s purchase and repeated animal sacrifices.

What is our position?

We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.

Where can I study this further?

No deeper study linked yet.

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