David Builds an Altar

18 So Gad came to David that day and said to him, “aGo up, erect an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of 1Araunah the Jebusite.”

19 David went up according to the word of Gad, just as the Lord had commanded.

20 Araunah looked down and saw the king and his servants crossing over toward him; and Araunah went out and bowed his face to the ground before the king.

21 Then Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, in order to build an altar to the Lord, athat the plague may be held back from the people.”

22 Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what is good in his sight. Look, athe oxen for the burnt offering, the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for the wood.

23 “Everything, O king, Araunah gives to the king.” And Araunah said to the king, “May the Lord your God aaccept you.”

24 However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price, for aI will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God 1which cost me nothing.” So bDavid bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

25 David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. aThus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.