1 chronicles 21:20 - Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

Generated Verse: 1 chronicles 21:20

What does "1 chronicles 21:20" mean?


This verse from 1 Chronicles 21:20 is a small part of a larger narrative about David's sin of taking a census and the resulting plague on Israel. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means in that context:

"Ornan turned back, and saw the angel..." This refers to the angel of the Lord who was sent to bring destruction upon Jerusalem as punishment for David's sin. Ornan is the owner of the threshing floor, a piece of level ground where grain is separated from the chaff. The fact that Ornan saw the angel suggests that the angel was visible in some form, perhaps as a manifestation of divine power and judgment.

"...and his four sons who were with him hid themselves." This highlights the terror and fear inspired by the angel's presence. The sons, being present with their father during the threshing of the wheat, recognized the supernatural danger and sought to protect themselves by hiding. Their fear emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the power of the divine messenger.

"Now Ornan was threshing wheat." This detail provides a snapshot of Ornan's activity at the time. He was engaged in a normal, everyday task of threshing wheat, suggesting that the angel's appearance was sudden and unexpected. It also establishes Ornan as a hardworking man of the land.

Significance and Context:

The verse sets the stage for David's encounter with Ornan. In the subsequent verses, God instructs David to build an altar on Ornan's threshing floor to appease the Lord and stop the plague.
Ornan's threshing floor becomes a significant place of sacrifice and reconciliation. David eventually buys the threshing floor from Ornan and offers sacrifices there, and the plague is stopped.
This location, Ornan's threshing floor, is traditionally identified as the future site of the Temple in Jerusalem.

In Summary:

The verse paints a picture of Ornan, a man engaged in his daily work, suddenly confronted with a terrifying divine presence. His sons, recognizing the danger, hide themselves. This moment of disruption and fear is pivotal, as it leads to the purchase of the threshing floor and the offering of sacrifices that stop the plague and ultimately mark the site for the future Temple. It underscores the consequences of David's sin and the importance of seeking reconciliation with God.

What categories does "1 chronicles 21:20" have?