This verse, 1 Chronicles 21:25, describes the price David paid to Ornan the Jebusite for the threshing floor that would become the site of the future Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"So David gave to Ornan...": This indicates a transaction between King David and Ornan, a Jebusite man. The Jebusites were the inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered it.
"...six hundred shekels of gold...": This is the amount of money David paid. A shekel was a unit of weight and also a unit of currency. Six hundred shekels of gold was a significant sum, indicating the importance of the purchase.
"...by weight...": This specifies that the gold was weighed, ensuring the correct amount was given and received. This emphasizes the fairness and precision of the transaction.
"...for the place.": This clarifies what David was purchasing: the threshing floor owned by Ornan. A threshing floor was a flat area where grain was separated from the stalks (chaff).
In summary, the verse means that King David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold, as determined by weight, to acquire the land where Ornan's threshing floor was located.
Significance:
Legal Purchase: This purchase emphasizes that David acquired the land legally and fairly. He didn't simply seize it by force. This legitimacy would be important for the Temple's future significance.
Holy Site: The location chosen for the Temple was not arbitrary. According to the narrative, God had commanded David to build an altar at Ornan's threshing floor to stop a plague. This made the site holy and divinely chosen.
Preparation for the Temple: This act was a crucial step in preparing for the construction of the Temple, which would eventually be built by David's son, Solomon.
It's important to note that the account in 2 Samuel 24:24 states that David paid only 50 shekels of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. This difference has led to some debate among scholars. One possible explanation is that the 50 shekels in Samuel represents the price for the threshing floor and oxen alone, while the 600 shekels in Chronicles represents the price for a larger area of land, including the threshing floor, that would encompass the entire Temple complex. Another explanation is that the chronicler is using a symbolic or idealized number to emphasize the importance of the site. Regardless, both accounts agree that David purchased the land.
This verse, 1 Chronicles 21:25, describes the price David paid to Ornan the Jebusite for the threshing floor that would become the site of the future Temple in Jerusalem. Let's break it down:
"So David gave to Ornan...": This indicates a transaction between King David and Ornan, a Jebusite man. The Jebusites were the inhabitants of Jerusalem before David conquered it.
"...six hundred shekels of gold...": This is the amount of money David paid. A shekel was a unit of weight and also a unit of currency. Six hundred shekels of gold was a significant sum, indicating the importance of the purchase.
"...by weight...": This specifies that the gold was weighed, ensuring the correct amount was given and received. This emphasizes the fairness and precision of the transaction.
"...for the place.": This clarifies what David was purchasing: the threshing floor owned by Ornan. A threshing floor was a flat area where grain was separated from the stalks (chaff).
In summary, the verse means that King David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold, as determined by weight, to acquire the land where Ornan's threshing floor was located.
Significance:
Legal Purchase: This purchase emphasizes that David acquired the land legally and fairly. He didn't simply seize it by force. This legitimacy would be important for the Temple's future significance.
Holy Site: The location chosen for the Temple was not arbitrary. According to the narrative, God had commanded David to build an altar at Ornan's threshing floor to stop a plague. This made the site holy and divinely chosen.
Preparation for the Temple: This act was a crucial step in preparing for the construction of the Temple, which would eventually be built by David's son, Solomon.
It's important to note that the account in 2 Samuel 24:24 states that David paid only 50 shekels of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen. This difference has led to some debate among scholars. One possible explanation is that the 50 shekels in Samuel represents the price for the threshing floor and oxen alone, while the 600 shekels in Chronicles represents the price for a larger area of land, including the threshing floor, that would encompass the entire Temple complex. Another explanation is that the chronicler is using a symbolic or idealized number to emphasize the importance of the site. Regardless, both accounts agree that David purchased the land.