2 Samuel 24 25

2 Samuel 24:25 kjv

And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

2 Samuel 24:25 nkjv

And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel.

2 Samuel 24:25 niv

David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered his prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

2 Samuel 24:25 esv

And David built there an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.

2 Samuel 24:25 nlt

David built an altar there to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the LORD answered his prayer for the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.

2 Samuel 24 verses

2 Samuel 24 25 Meaning

2 Samuel 24:25 describes David's act of worship and the divine response following the plague upon Israel. David built an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan in Chronicles) in obedience to God's command given through the prophet Gad. There, he offered burnt offerings, signifying complete devotion and atonement, and peace offerings, symbolizing fellowship and gratitude to God. As a direct result of these acceptable sacrifices and the repentance they represented, the Lord responded favorably, and the devastating plague afflicting the land was halted, demonstrating God's mercy and faithfulness to His covenant people.

2 Samuel 24 25 Context

The events of 2 Samuel 24 detail a punitive plague initiated by the Lord, as punishment for David's decision to conduct a census. This census, explicitly described as contrary to God's will (implied in its punishment and David's regret, though the direct motivation of Satan in 1 Chronicles 21:1 or divine judgment is also part of the full biblical narrative), was a manifestation of David's pride or his reliance on human strength rather than God's. As a result, 70,000 men of Israel died. David immediately confessed his sin and interceded for the people. The prophet Gad instructed David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the very place where the angel of the Lord, who had been inflicting the plague, had paused. David insisted on purchasing the threshing floor and oxen from Araunah, refusing to offer to the Lord that which cost him nothing. This verse then describes David's act of obedience by building the altar and offering the required sacrifices, leading to the cessation of the plague. This location is later identified as Mount Moriah, the site of Solomon's Temple, highlighting its enduring sacred significance.

2 Samuel 24 25 Word analysis

• So David built there an altar to the Lord:
  • David (דָּוִד - Dāwid): The chosen king, though flawed, demonstrating repentance and leadership in crisis. His role is crucial for national deliverance.
  • built (בָּנָה - bānāh): More than simple construction, this verb implies establishing and dedicating, an act of intentional worship and obedience to God's specific command. It signifies restoration of a proper relationship with God.
  • there: Refers to the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, a Gentile, highlighting God's grace extending beyond Israel. This site later becomes the permanent location for the Temple in Jerusalem.
  • altar (מִזְבֵּחַ - mizbēaḥ): A designated place for sacrifice, representing a point of contact between God and humanity. Building an altar indicates the re-establishment of a means for atonement and communion with God after a period of estrangement due to sin.
  • to the Lord (לַיהוָה - laYHWH): Emphasizes that the action is directed toward Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It's an act of worship, supplication, and recognition of His sovereignty and holiness.
• and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings:
  • offered (וַיַּעַל - vayyaʿal): Lit. "and he brought up," referring to the ascension of the smoke of the burnt offering. It signifies presentation and dedication to God.
  • burnt offerings (עֹלוֹת - ʿōlōt): Plural of ʿōlāh, meaning "what goes up." These sacrifices were entirely consumed by fire, symbolizing complete surrender, devotion, and atonement for unintentional sins, seeking complete reconciliation with God.
  • peace offerings (שְׁלָמִים - shělāmīm): Plural of shělāmīm, connected to "shalom" (peace, wholeness, completeness). These sacrifices celebrated fellowship with God, thanksgiving, and the fulfillment of vows. Offering them signifies a restored state of peace and communion with God after atonement.
• Thus the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel:
  • Thus (וַיֵּעָתֵר - vayyeʿātēr): Lit. "and he responded," referring to God's favorable answer to prayer and sacrifice. It shows divine acceptance and mercy.
  • the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Reinforces God's direct involvement in hearing and responding.
  • was entreated: Indicates that God received David's offering and supplication favorably. This points to the efficacy of the commanded ritual and the sincerity of David's repentance.
  • for the land: The consequence of David's sin directly affected the people across the land, and thus, God's intervention was "for the land," benefiting the entire nation.
  • the plague (הַמַּגֵּפָה - hammagēphāh): The severe epidemic of judgment. The specific mention underscores the tangible manifestation of divine wrath.
  • was withdrawn (וַתֵּעָצַר - vattēʿāṣar): Lit. "was restrained" or "ceased." This is the direct, miraculous cessation of God's judgment, signifying that divine wrath had been appeased through atonement and obedience.
  • from Israel: Highlights that the whole nation, which bore the brunt of the census sin, was delivered, showcasing God's collective judgment and deliverance.

2 Samuel 24 25 Bonus section

• The willingness of David to pay the full price for the threshing floor, rejecting Araunah's offer of free land and animals, emphasized that a sacrifice acceptable to the Lord must cost the offeror something. David articulated, "I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing" (2 Sam 24:24). This principle highlights the sincerity and value placed on the worship and acknowledgment of God's worth.
• The immediate response of the plague's cessation after the offerings speaks to God's perfect timing and swift mercy. It serves as a tangible demonstration of God's power and His willingness to relent when His conditions for reconciliation are met.
• The specific location—Araunah's threshing floor—becomes a crucial piece of redemptive history. This ordinary agricultural site, associated with death (due to the plague) and judgment, was consecrated and transformed into a holy ground by divine command and human obedience, ultimately becoming the sacred location for the Temple (1 Chr 21:26; 2 Chr 3:1), establishing it as the center of Israel's worship and national identity.

2 Samuel 24 25 Commentary

2 Samuel 24:25 serves as a profound capstone to the narrative of David's sin, God's judgment, and subsequent mercy. David's census, whether motivated by pride or an unholy trust in numbers, resulted in devastating divine retribution. His subsequent heartfelt confession and obedience, as instructed by the prophet Gad, led directly to God's gracious intervention. The building of the altar and the offering of burnt and peace sacrifices were not merely ritualistic acts; they were expressions of profound repentance, acknowledging divine sovereignty and seeking reconciliation. The acceptance of these sacrifices by the Lord, as evidenced by the immediate cessation of the plague, underscores the principle of divine response to genuine repentance and atoning sacrifice. This event, occurring on the threshing floor of Araunah, is supremely significant, marking the very spot chosen by God to house His future Temple—a permanent locus of atonement and worship for Israel, prefiguring the ultimate atonement through the Messiah. This act of national repentance, though initiated by the king, brought deliverance for the people, demonstrating the collective impact of leadership and the efficacy of appointed means of grace.