Araunah: Agile; also called Ornan
(1 Chronicles 21:15) a Jebusite who dwelt in Jerusalem
before it was taken by the Israelites. The destroying angel, sent to
punish David for his vanity in taking a census of the people, was
stayed in his work of destruction near a threshing-floor belonging to
Araunah which was situated on Mount Moriah. Araunah offered it to
David as a free gift, together with the oxen and the threshing
instruments; but the king insisted on purchasing it at its full price
(2 Samuel 24:24; 1 Chronicles 21:24,25) for, according to the law of sacrifices, he
could not offer to God what cost him nothing. On the same place
Solomon afterwards erected the temple
(2 Samuel 24:16; 2 Chronicles 3:1)
