2 Samuel 24:23 (KJV)

What does 2 Samuel 24:23 mean?

2 Samuel 24:23 describes Araunah, who is acting generously and respectfully, offering everything needed for King David’s sacrifice and expressing a hope that the LORD will accept David. The verse highlights Araunah’s willingness to give as a king to a king and his desire for David’s offering to be pleasing to God.

In this scene, Araunah is speaking directly to King David during a plague affecting Israel. David has come to buy Araunah’s threshing floor to build an altar to the LORD. Araunah offers not only the land but also oxen and wood for the sacrifice, showing both honor and generosity. Araunah’s words, “The LORD thy God accept thee,” express a blessing or wish that David’s actions will be accepted by God.

The Hebrew behind 2 Samuel 24:23

• אָרַוְנָה (Araunah, transliterated "Araunah"): This is the name of the Jebusite who owns the threshing floor. His role as a giver in this story is significant, showing respect and generosity toward David.
• מֶלֶךְ (melek, transliterated "king"): Used for both Araunah and David in this verse, it highlights Araunah’s own status, possibly as a local ruler or notable, and emphasizes the dignity with which he interacts with David.
• נָתַן (nathan, transliterated "give"): This word means “to give” and underscores Araunah’s free and willing offer of everything needed for the sacrifice.
• יְהוָה (YHWH, transliterated "Yahweh" or "the LORD"): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, showing the focus on the God of Israel.
• אֱלֹהִים (Elohim, transliterated "God"): This word for God is often used to emphasize God’s power and majesty.
• רָצָה (ratsah, transliterated "accept"): This word means “to be pleased with” or “to accept,” and here it expresses Araunah’s hope that David’s offering will be favorably received by God.

Why 2 Samuel 24:23 matters

• This verse clarifies that Araunah’s generosity is genuine and not forced; he willingly offers everything needed for David’s sacrifice, which is important for understanding David’s later insistence on paying for it.
• The mention of Araunah as a “king” shows he is not just a common subject but a person of status, making his humility and generosity even more striking.
• Araunah’s blessing, “The LORD thy God accept thee,” connects the actions in this story to their spiritual purpose, reminding the reader that the ultimate goal is God’s acceptance, not just the outward act of sacrifice.