Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:18 - 21:30

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 1 Chronicles 21:18 - 21:30


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

The Sacrifice on Ornan's Threshing-Floor. —

v. 18. Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite,
this being located on the summit of what was afterward known as Mount Zion, the place where the Temple was built.

v. 19. And David went up at the saying of Gad which he spake in the name of the Lord.

v. 20. And Oman turned back,
he turned around while busy with his work, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now, Ornan was threshing wheat, on an open threshing-floor, as is the custom in the Orient.

v. 21. And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshing-floor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground,
showing his sovereign all proper respect according to the Fourth Commandment.

v. 22. And David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshing-floor,
he needed the entire area for what he had in mind, that I may build an altar therein unto the Lord. Thou shalt grant it me for the full price that the plague may be stayed from the people.

v. 23. And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes,
this offer agreeing with the Oriental custom of doing business; lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing-instruments, the rough sledge with its rollers, for wood, and the wheat for the meat-offering; I give it all. Ornan was anxious to have the plague stayed as soon as possible, and so his offer was made for instant use.

v. 24. And King David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price; for I will not take that which is thine for the Lord, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
It was David's transgression, and he wanted to bear the full expense of the sacrifice.

v. 25. So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight
(almost $6,000), paying fifty shekels of silver for the cattle and the threshing-sledge alone, 2Sa_24:24.

v. 26. And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings,
both in atonement for his sin and to restore the proper fellowship with the Lord, and called upon the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering. Cf Lev_9:24; 1Ki_18:21-23; 2Ki_1:12.

v. 27. And the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof,
thus staying the plague.

v. 28. At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him in the threshing-floor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there,
brought offerings of thanksgiving and dedicated this spot to the Lord, the Temple being erected there afterward.

v. 29. For the Tabernacle of the Lord which Moses made in the wilderness and the altar of the burnt offering were at that season in the high place at Gibeon,
1Ch_16:39, and one of the high priests officiated there until after the dedication of Solomon's Temple.

v. 30. But David could not go before it to enquire of God; for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord;
the appearance of the angel and the great toll of the slain had left an impression of awful holiness of the place where the Lord usually revealed Himself. Note: The believers of the New Testament have a better sacrifice of atonement than that of David; for the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses us from all sins, takes away the guilt of our transgressions, and stays the plague of eternal damnation.