2 Samuel 24 24

2 Samuel 24:24 kjv

And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2 Samuel 24:24 nkjv

Then the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God with that which costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2 Samuel 24:24 niv

But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

2 Samuel 24:24 esv

But the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

2 Samuel 24:24 nlt

But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing." So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 24 Meaning

This verse profoundly captures King David's understanding of true worship and sacrifice. After the plague upon Israel, instigated by David's census, the prophet Gad instructed him to build an altar to the Lord on Araunah's threshing floor. Araunah generously offered the land, oxen, and wood for free. However, David refused to accept them as a gift, declaring that he would not offer burnt offerings to the Lord his God that cost him nothing. This principle underscored his conviction that genuine worship must involve personal sacrifice and value, demonstrating an sincere heart and true repentance, rather than an act performed out of convenience or lack of personal investment. Consequently, David purchased the necessary land and materials for a significant sum of money, completing the act of atonement required.

2 Samuel 24 24 Context

2 Samuel chapter 24 recounts King David's sin in ordering a census of Israel, an act driven by pride and a lack of trust in God's provision and protection, rather than for military necessity or spiritual counting. This displeased the Lord, leading to a severe plague that struck Israel, resulting in seventy thousand deaths. In response, David repented deeply and confessed his sin before the Lord. The prophet Gad then instructed David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the exact location where the angel of the Lord stopped the plague. When David approached Araunah, Araunah, showing remarkable generosity, offered to give the threshing floor, the oxen for the burnt offering, and the wood for fuel to the king for free. This verse (24:24) records David's powerful and pivotal response to Araunah's offer, refusing to accept the sacrifice for free because true worship and atonement required a personal cost. This site later became the sacred location for Solomon's Temple (2 Chr 3:1).

2 Samuel 24 24 Word analysis

• However (Hebrew: לֹא - `lo`): Often translated "no" or "not." Here, it marks a strong, decisive negation of Araunah's generous offer. It signals David's immediate and firm resolve.
• the king said to Araunah, "No, but (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמֶר הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַוְנָה לֹא כִּי־):
  • king (`hamelech`): Refers to David, highlighting his royal authority but also his spiritual insight in this moment.
  • Araunah (`Aravnah`): A Jebusite, the original owner of the land. His immediate submission and generosity to David (the Israelite king) demonstrate loyalty and perhaps an understanding of God's hand in the situation.
  • No, but (`lo ki`): A very emphatic negation. It is not just "no," but a firm refusal followed by the precise reason and counter-proposal.
• I will surely buy it from you for a price. (Hebrew: קָנוֹה אֶקְנֶה מֵאִתְּךָ בִּמְחִיר - `qanoh eqneh me'itt'kha bimkhir`):
  • surely buy (`qanoh eqneh`): The infinitive absolute (`qanoh`) placed before the finite verb (`eqneh` from the root `qanah`, "to buy" or "acquire") intensifies the verb, expressing absolute certainty and strong determination. David emphasizes his firm intent to purchase.
  • price (`mechir`): This Hebrew word specifically means "cost" or "purchase price." It explicitly denotes a monetary transaction, reinforcing David's principle of exchange and personal investment.
• For I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing." (Hebrew: כִּי לֹא־אַעֲלֶה לַיהוָה אֱלֹהַי עֹלוֹת בְּחִנָּם - `ki lo-a'aleh la-YHWH Elohai 'olot bechinam`):
  • For (`ki`): Introduces the reason for his refusal, articulating the foundational theological principle behind his action.
  • I will not offer (`lo-a'aleh`): `A'aleh` comes from `'alah`, "to go up" or "to ascend," specifically used for making a sacrifice ascend in smoke. The negation (`lo`) signifies his clear and unwavering refusal of a free offering.
  • burnt offerings (`'olot`): Sacrifices that were entirely consumed by fire on the altar, symbolizing complete devotion, atonement for sin, and pleasing aroma to God.
  • to the Lord my God (`la-YHWH Elohai`): Highlights David's personal, covenantal relationship with Yahweh. This act is not merely ritual, but a deeply personal devotion.
  • that cost me nothing (`bechinam`): This phrase is the theological core of the verse. `Bechinam` means "for nothing," "freely," or "without cost." David understood that an act of worship or atonement, particularly a sacrifice meant to appease God for such grievous sin, would be devalued if it demanded no personal cost or sacrifice from him. It speaks to the integrity and sincerity of the heart behind the giving.
• So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (Hebrew: וַיִּקֶן דָּוִד אֶת־הַגֹּרֶן וְאֶת־הַבָּקָר בְּכֶסֶף שְׁקָלִים חֲמִשִּׁים - `wa-yiqen David et-ha-goren we'et-ha-baqar be-keseph sheqalim chamishim`):
  • So David bought (`wa-yiqen David`): The consequence of his principled stand; David acts upon his conviction.
  • threshing floor (`ha-goren`): A hardened, flat area used for separating grain from chaff, traditionally outside the main city. It was a suitable, clear space for an altar.
  • oxen (`ha-baqar`): Essential for the burnt offering, both as the sacrifice itself and potentially for ploughing/hauling if needed for preparing the site.
  • fifty shekels of silver (`chamishim sheqalim keseph`): The specific price David paid. This was a substantial amount for that specific parcel and the oxen needed for the immediate sacrifice, reflecting the seriousness of the transaction. (Note: 1 Chr 21:25 states 600 shekels of gold. This is generally understood as the larger payment for the entire site (the whole property) which would later encompass Solomon's Temple, while the 50 shekels of silver in 2 Samuel refers specifically to the immediate purchase of the threshing floor and oxen needed for David's immediate sacrifice).
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price. For I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.": This forms David's profound statement of principle. It rejects the idea of "cheap grace" or effortless atonement. It reveals a deep theological understanding that true sacrifice requires personal cost, commitment, and demonstration of value to God. It shows that the value of an offering is derived not just from its monetary worth, but from the personal sacrifice it entails for the giver.
  • "So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.": This phrase describes the concrete action that immediately followed and demonstrated David's conviction. It shows his commitment to his declared principle, providing immediate resolution for the immediate sacrificial needs while hinting at a larger, future sacred space.

2 Samuel 24 24 Bonus section

This verse carries immense historical and theological significance far beyond David's immediate act of atonement.

• Foundational Site for the Temple: The threshing floor of Araunah, identified as Mount Moriah (2 Chr 3:1), is the same mountain where Abraham offered Isaac (Gen 22). David's purchase sanctified this spot, marking it as the destined location for Solomon's Temple, the permanent dwelling place of God among His people. This lineage underscores the continuity of divine purpose and the enduring significance of sacrificial acts on this particular land.
• The Nature of True Sacrifice: David's declaration "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing" resonates throughout biblical theology. It contrasts sharply with insincere or convenient offerings God explicitly condemns (e.g., Mal 1:8). It sets a standard that God values not just the gift, but the sacrifice, heart, and cost behind the gift. This principle finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's offering of Himself, which cost Him everything, for humanity's atonement.
• Reconciliation of the Shekel Amounts: The apparent discrepancy between 2 Samuel 24:24 (50 shekels of silver) and 1 Chronicles 21:25 (600 shekels of gold) is commonly reconciled by scholars. The 50 shekels of silver likely purchased the threshing floor and oxen immediately needed for the initial burnt offering altar. The 600 shekels of gold mentioned in Chronicles more likely refer to a much larger land parcel encompassing the entire area designated for the future Temple complex and its courtyards, a broader acquisition for a much larger project. This reconciliation ensures consistency in God's Word while explaining different scopes of the purchase.
• Araunah's Character: Araunah, a Jebusite, displays remarkable generosity and reverence for David and the situation. His willingness to give everything for free highlights the goodness and obedience even among non-Israelites who encountered God's workings. David's insistence on payment honors Araunah's generosity while maintaining the spiritual integrity of the act.

2 Samuel 24 24 Commentary

David's refusal to accept the land and sacrificial animals for free highlights a pivotal principle of worship: true sacrifice demands a cost. For David, a king, to humble himself and pay a substantial sum demonstrated the sincerity of his repentance and the profound value he placed on his relationship with the Lord. It underscores that offerings made without personal cost, and by extension without heartfelt investment, are inadequate and may even be an insult to God. Genuine atonement requires not just the shedding of blood, but a tangible expression of one's devotion and acknowledgment of sin. This act transformed Araunah's threshing floor into a holy site, secured through a willing, costly sacrifice, establishing the groundwork for future worship and ultimately, the site of Solomon's magnificent Temple. This verse sets a powerful example for all believers: worship is not merely ritual, but a deeply personal, active, and often costly commitment of oneself and one's resources to God.