2 Samuel 24:18-25

Contemporary English Version

David Buys Araunah's Threshing Place

(1 Chronicles 21.18—22.1)

^18-19 That same day the prophet Gad came and told David, “Go to the threshing place that belongs to Araunah and build an altar there for the Lord.”

So David went.

²⁰ Araunah looked and saw David and his soldiers coming up toward him. He went over to David, bowed down low, ²¹ and said, “Your Majesty! Why have you come to see me?”

David answered, “I've come to buy your threshing place. I have to build the Lord an altar here, so this disease will stop killing the people.”

²² Araunah said, “Take whatever you want and offer your sacrifice. Here are some oxen for the sacrifice. You can use the threshing-boards^[a] and the wooden yokes for the fire. ²³ Take them—they're yours! I hope the Lord your God will be pleased with you.”

²⁴ But David answered, “No! I have to pay you what they're worth. I can't offer the Lord my God a sacrifice that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing place and the oxen for 50 pieces of silver. ²⁵ Then he built an altar for the Lord. He offered sacrifices to please the Lord and to ask for his blessings.

The Lord answered the prayers of the people, and no one else died from the terrible disease.