2 Samuel 24 in Hebrew, English & Transliteration

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Tenakh Study · 2 Samuel 24:1–25

2 Samuel, Chapter 24

שמואל ב כד

Hashem’s anger is kindled against Israel and David is moved to count the people; Yo’av objects but counts them from Dan to Be’er Sheva. David’s heart strikes him, and Gad offers three choices. David chooses to fall into Hashem’s hand, and a plague kills seventy thousand until Hashem stops the angel at the threshing floor of Aravnah the Yevusi. David buys the threshing floor, builds an altar, and the plague is stayed.

24:1And again the anger of Hashem was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Yehudah (Judah).”

Vayosef af-Adonai laḥarot beYisra'el vayaset et-David bahem lemor leḥ meneh et-Yisra'el ve'et-Yehudah.

אוַיֹּ֙סֶף֙ אַף־יְהֹוָ֔ה לַחֲר֖וֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֨סֶת אֶת־דָּוִ֚ד בָּהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֵ֛ךְ מְנֵ֥ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־יְהוּדָֽה׃

24:2And the king said to Yo’av (Joab) the commander of the army, who was with him, “Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Be’er Sheva (Beersheba), and count the people, that I may know the number of the people.”

Vayomer hameleḥ el-Yo'av sar-haḥayil asher-ito shut-na beḥol-shivtei Yisra'el miDan ve'ad-Be'er Sheva ufikdu et-ha'am veyada'ti et mispar ha'am.

בוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־יוֹאָ֣ב ׀ שַׂר־הַחַ֣יִל אֲשֶׁר־אִתּ֗וֹ שֽׁוּט־נָ֞א בְּכָל־שִׁבְטֵ֚י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע וּפִקְד֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וְיָ֣דַעְתִּ֔י אֵ֖ת מִסְפַּ֥ר הָעָֽם׃

24:3And Yo’av said unto the king, “Now may Hashem your God add unto the people, however many they may be, a hundredfold, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it; but why does my lord the king delight in this thing?”

Vayomer Yo'av el-hameleḥ veyosef Adonai eloheḥa el-ha'am kahem veḥahem me'ah fe'amim ve'einei adoni-hameleḥ ro'ot vadoni hameleḥ lamah ḥafetz badavar hazeh.

גוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יוֹאָ֜ב אֶל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וְיוֹסֵ֣ף יְהֹוָה֩ אֱלֹהֶ֨יךָ אֶל־הָעָ֜ם כָּהֵ֚ם ׀ וְכָהֵם֙ מֵאָ֣ה פְעָמִ֔ים וְעֵינֵ֥י אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ רֹא֑וֹת וַאדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לָ֥מָּה חָפֵ֖ץ בַּדָּבָ֥ר הַזֶּֽה׃

24:4Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Yo’av, and against the commanders of the army. And Yo’av and the commanders of the army went out from the presence of the king, to count the people of Israel.

Vayeḥezak devar-hameleḥ el-Yo'av ve'al sarei heḥayil vayetze Yo'av vesarei haḥayil lifnei hameleḥ lifkod et-ha'am et-Yisra'el.

דוַיֶּחֱזַ֚ק דְּבַר־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־יוֹאָ֔ב וְעַ֖ל שָׂרֵ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וַיֵּצֵ֨א יוֹאָ֜ב וְשָׂרֵ֚י הַחַ֙יִל֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ לִפְקֹ֥ד אֶת־הָעָ֖ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

24:5And they passed over the Yarden (Jordan), and encamped in Aro’er (Aroer), on the right side of the city that is in the middle of the valley of Gad, and toward Ya’zer (Jazer);

Vaya'avru et-haYarden vayaḥanu va'Aro'er yemin ha'ir asher betoḥ-hanaḥal haGad ve'el-Ya'zer.

הוַיַּעַבְר֖וּ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וַיַּחֲנ֣וּ בַעֲרוֹעֵ֗ר יְמִ֥ין הָעִ֛יר אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּתוֹךְ־הַנַּ֥חַל הַגָּ֖ד וְאֶל־יַעְזֵֽר׃

24:6then they came to Gil’ad (Gilead), and to the land of Tachtim Chodshi (Tahtim-hodshi); and they came to Dan Ya’an (Dan-jaan), and around to Tzidon (Sidon),

Vayavo'u haGil'adah ve'el-eretz Taḥtim Ḥodshi vayavo'u Danah Ya'an vesaviv el-Tzidon.

ווַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ הַגִּלְעָ֔דָה וְאֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ תַּחְתִּ֖ים חָדְשִׁ֑י וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ דָּ֣נָה יַּ֔עַן וְסָבִ֖יב אֶל־צִידֽוֹן׃

24:7and came to the stronghold of Tzor (Tyre), and to all the cities of the Chivi (Hivites) and of the Kena’ani (Canaanites); and they went out to the south of Yehudah, to Be’er Sheva.

Vayavo'u mivtzar-Tzor veḥol-arei haḤivi vehaKena'ani vayetze'u el-negev Yehudah Be'er Shava.

זוַיָּבֹ֨אוּ מִבְצַר־צֹ֔ר וְכָל־עָרֵ֥י הַחִוִּ֖י וְהַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י וַיֵּֽצְא֛וּ אֶל־נֶ֥גֶב יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃

24:8So when they had gone through all the land, they came to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) at the end of nine months and twenty days.

Vayashutu beḥol-ha'aretz vayavo'u miktzeh tish'ah ḥodashim ve'esrim yom Yerushalayim.

חוַיָּשֻׁ֖טוּ בְּכָל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ מִקְצֵ֨ה תִשְׁעָ֧ה חֳדָשִׁ֛ים וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים י֖וֹם יְרוּשָׁלָֽםִ׃

24:9And Yo’av gave the sum of the number of the people unto the king; and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword; and the men of Yehudah were five hundred thousand men.

Vayiten Yo'av et-mispar mifkad-ha'am el-hameleḥ vatehi Yisra'el shemoneh me'ot elef ish-ḥayil sholef ḥerev ve'ish Yehudah ḥamesh-me'ot elef ish.

טוַיִּתֵּ֥ן יוֹאָ֛ב אֶת־מִסְפַּ֥ר מִפְקַד־הָעָ֖ם אֶל־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתְּהִ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֡ל שְׁמֹנֶה֩ מֵא֨וֹת אֶ֚לֶף אִֽישׁ־חַ֙יִל֙ שֹׁ֣לֵֽף חֶ֔רֶב וְאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה חֲמֵשׁ־מֵא֥וֹת אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

Commentary · 24:1–9

“Go, number Israel”

“He moved David against them.” Chronicles says, “Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1). Rashi admits, “I do not know why” Hashem was angry; Radak suggests hidden sins, and says the impulse in David’s heart to count them “is the Satan, as it says in Chronicles” (Rashi and Radak on 24:1). Rabbi Palvanov said simply: “We don’t take censuses… which requires a lot of meditation and explanation.”

The Talmud says Hashem answered a word David once spoke to Shaul, “If Hashem have stirred thee up against me” (1 Samuel 26:19): “You called Me an inciter? I will make you stumble in a matter that even schoolchildren know,” that when Israel is counted each must give “a ransom for his soul” (Exodus 30:12; Berakhot 62b, R. Elazar). David counted without the half-shekel. Rabbi Yitzchak: “It is forbidden to count Israel even for a mitzvah”; Rabbi Elazar says it transgresses one negative commandment, Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak two, from “which cannot be measured nor numbered” (Hosea 1:10; Yoma 22b). Even Yo’av objects. FFOZ notes that a census counts the men fit for war (End of Days, Lesson 49); David counted his strength, though he had sung, “You have girded me with strength for battle” (22:40).

Three choices

24:10And David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people. And David said unto Hashem, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done; and now, I beseech You, O Hashem, take away the iniquity of Your servant; for I have done very foolishly.”

Vayaḥ lev-David oto aḥarei-ḥen safar et-ha'am vayomer David el-Adonai ḥatati me'od asher asiti ve'atah Adonai ha'aver-na et-avon avdeḥa ki niskalti me'od.

יוַיַּ֚ךְ לֵב־דָּוִד֙ אֹת֔וֹ אַחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן סָפַ֣ר אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד אֶל־יְהֹוָ֗ה חָטָ֚אתִי מְאֹד֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִֹ֔יתִי וְעַתָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה הַֽעֲבֶר־נָא֙ אֶת־עֲוֹ֣ן עַבְדְּךָ֔ כִּ֥י נִסְכַּ֖לְתִּי מְאֹֽד׃

24:11And when David rose up in the morning, the word of Hashem came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying,

Vayakom David baboker udevar-Adonai hayah el-Gad hanavi ḥozeh David lemor.

יאוַיָּ֥קָם דָּוִ֖ד בַּבֹּ֑קֶר פ וּדְבַר־יְהֹוָ֗ה הָיָה֙ אֶל־גָּ֣ד הַנָּבִ֔יא חֹזֵ֥ה דָוִ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃

24:12“Go and say unto David, ‘Thus says Hashem: I offer you three things; choose one of them, that I may do it unto you.’”

Haloḥ vedibarta el-David koh amar Adonai shalosh anoḥi notel aleḥa beḥar-leḥa aḥat-mehem ve'e'eseh-laḥ.

יבהָל֞וֹךְ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֣ אֶל־דָּוִ֗ד כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׁלֹ֕שׁ אָנֹכִ֖י נוֹטֵ֣ל עָלֶ֑יךָ בְּחַר־לְךָ֥ אַֽחַת־מֵהֶ֖ם וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂה־לָּֽךְ׃

24:13So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, “Shall seven years of famine come unto you in your land? Or will you flee three months before your enemies, while they pursue you? Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land? Now consider, and see what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”

Vayavo-Gad el-David vayaged-lo vayomer lo hatavo leḥa sheva shanim ra'av be'artzeḥa im-sheloshah ḥodashim nusḥa lifnei-tzareḥa vehu rodefeḥa ve'im-heyot sheloshet yamim dever be'artzeḥa atah da ure'eh mah-ashiv sholeḥi davar.

יגוַיָּבֹא־גָ֥ד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד וַיַּגֶּד־ל֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֡וֹ הֲתָב֣וֹא לְךָ֣ שֶֽׁבַע שָׁנִ֣ים ׀ רָעָ֣ב ׀ בְּאַרְצֶ֡ךָ אִם־שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה חֳ֠דָשִׁים נֻסְךָ֙ לִפְנֵֽי־צָרֶ֜יךָ וְה֣וּא רֹדְפֶ֗ךָ וְאִם־הֱ֠יוֹת שְׁל֨שֶׁת יָמִ֥ים דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּאַרְצֶ֔ךָ עַתָּה֙ דַּ֣ע וּרְאֵ֔ה מָה־אָשִׁ֥יב שֹׁלְחִ֖י דָּבָֽר׃

24:14And David said unto Gad, “I am in great distress. Let us fall now into the hand of Hashem, for His mercies are great; and let me not fall into the hand of man.”

Vayomer David el-Gad tzar-li me'od nipelah-na veyad-Adonai ki-rabim raḥamav uveyad-adam al-epolah.

ידוַיֹּ֧אמֶר דָּוִ֛ד אֶל־גָּ֖ד צַר־לִ֣י מְאֹ֑ד נִפְּלָה־נָּ֚א בְיַד־יְהֹוָה֙ כִּֽי־רַבִּ֣ים רַֽחֲמָ֔יו (כתיב רַֽחֲמָ֔ו) וּבְיַד־אָדָ֖ם אַל־אֶפֹּֽלָה׃

24:15So Hashem sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan even to Be’er Sheva seventy thousand men.

Vayiten Adonai dever beYisra'el mehaboker ve'ad-et mo'ed vayamot min-ha'am miDan ve'ad-Be'er Sheva shiv'im elef ish.

טווַיִּתֵּ֨ן יְהֹוָ֥ה דֶּ֙בֶר֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מֵהַבֹּ֖קֶר וְעַד־עֵ֣ת מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיָּ֣מָת מִן־הָעָ֗ם מִדָּן֙ וְעַד־בְּאֵ֣ר שֶׁ֔בַע שִׁבְעִ֥ים אֶ֖לֶף אִֽישׁ׃

24:16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Yerushalayim to destroy it, Hashem relented of the evil, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of Hashem was by the threshing floor of Aravnah (Araunah) the Yevusi (Jebusite).

Vayishlaḥ yado hamal'aḥ Yerushalayim leshaḥatah vayinaḥem Adonai el-hara'ah vayomer lamal'aḥ hamashḥit ba'am rav atah heref yadeḥa umal'aḥ Adonai hayah im-goren ha'Aravnah haYevusi.

טזוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יָד֨וֹ הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ ׀ יְרֽוּשָׁלַםִ֘ לְשַׁחֲתָהּ֒ וַיִּנָּ֚חֶם יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה וַ֠יֹּאמֶר לַמַּלְאָ֞ךְ הַמַּשְׁחִ֚ית בָּעָם֙ רַ֔ב עַתָּ֖ה הֶ֣רֶף יָדֶ֑ךָ וּמַלְאַ֚ךְ יְהֹוָה֙ הָיָ֔ה עִם־גֹּ֖רֶן הָאֲרַ֥וְנָה (כתיב הָאֲוַ֥רְנָה) הַיְבֻסִֽי׃

24:17And David spoke unto Hashem when he saw the angel who struck the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray You, be against me, and against my father’s house.”

Vayomer David el-Adonai bir'oto et-hamal'aḥ hamakeh va'am vayomer hineh anoḥi ḥatati ve'anoḥi he'eveiti ve'eleh hatzon meh asu tehi na yadeḥa bi uveveit avi.

יזוַיֹּאמֶר֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶל־יְהֹוָ֜ה בִּרְאֹת֣וֹ ׀ אֶֽת־הַמַּלְאָ֣ךְ ׀ הַמַּכֶּ֣ה בָעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֚י חָטָ֙אתִי֙ וְאָנֹכִ֣י הֶעֱוֵ֔יתִי וְאֵ֥לֶּה הַצֹּ֖אן מֶ֣ה עָשֹ֑וּ תְּהִ֨י נָ֥א יָדְךָ֛ בִּ֖י וּבְבֵ֥ית אָבִֽי׃

Commentary · 24:10–17

“Let us fall into the hand of Hashem”

Gad offers seven years of famine, three months of flight, or three days of plague; Radak reconciles the “three years” of Chronicles: three had already passed in chapter 21’s famine (Radak on 24:13). David chooses the hand of Hashem. Rashi brings Rabbi Alexandri: had he chosen the sword, Israel would say he trusts his warriors; famine, his storehouses; so he chose “something in which all are equal” (Rashi on 24:14). Rabbi Palvanov: “I prefer something that comes directly from Hashem than something that depends on people.”

Seventy thousand die. When Hashem told the angel, “It is enough (rav),” Rabbi Elazar reads, “Take the great one among them,” and at that hour Avishai son of Tzeruyah died, who was equal to the majority of the Sanhedrin (Berakhot 62b). What did Hashem see when He relented (1 Chronicles 21:15)? Rav: Yaakov; Shmuel: the ashes of Yitzchak; Rabbi Yitzchak Nafcha: the atonement money; Rabbi Yochanan: the Temple, “in the mount of Hashem it shall be seen” (Genesis 22:14), and the Gemara prefers the Temple. Then David’s best words: “Behold, I have sinned… but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand be against me.” Messianic reading. “The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). David asked and could not, being guilty himself; the Son of David came “to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45), and we were redeemed “not with… silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Messiah” (1 Peter 1:18–19).

The threshing floor of Aravnah

24:18And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, “Go up, raise an altar unto Hashem on the threshing floor of Aravnah the Yevusi.”

Vayavo-Gad el-David bayom hahu vayomer lo aleh hakem la-Adonai mizbeaḥ begoren Aravnah haYevusi.

יחוַיָּבֹא־גָ֥ד אֶל־דָּוִ֖ד בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ עֲלֵה֙ הָקֵ֚ם לַֽיהֹוָה֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ בְּגֹ֖רֶן אֲרַ֥וְנָה (כתיב אֲרַ֥נְיָה) הַיְבֻסִֽי׃

24:19And David went up according to the word of Gad, as Hashem commanded.

Vaya'al David kidvar-Gad ka'asher tzivah Adonai.

יטוַיַּ֚עַל דָּוִד֙ כִּדְבַר־גָּ֔ד כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָֽה׃

24:20And Aravnah looked out, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him; and Aravnah went out, and bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground.

Vayashkef Aravnah vayar et-hameleḥ ve'et-avadav overim alav vayetze Aravnah vayishtaḥu lameleḥ apav aretzah.

כוַיַּשְׁקֵ֣ף אֲרַ֗וְנָה וַיַּ֚רְא אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֔יו עֹבְרִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיֵּצֵ֣א אֲרַ֔וְנָה וַיִּשְׁתַּ֧חוּ לַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃

24:21And Aravnah said, “Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” And David said, “To buy the threshing floor from you, to build an altar unto Hashem, that the plague may be stayed from the people.”

Vayomer Aravnah madua ba adoni-hameleḥ el-avdo vayomer David liknot me'imeḥa et-hagoren livnot mizbeaḥ la-Adonai vete'atzar hamagefah me'al ha'am.

כאוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲרַ֔וְנָה מַדּ֛וּעַ בָּ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לִקְנ֧וֹת מֵעִמְּךָ֣ אֶת־הַגֹּ֗רֶן לִבְנ֚וֹת מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְתֵעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הָעָֽם׃

24:22And Aravnah said unto David, “Let my lord the king take and offer up what seems good unto him; behold, here are the oxen for the burnt offering, and the threshing sledges and the yokes of the oxen for wood.”

Vayomer Aravnah el-David yikaḥ veya'al adoni hameleḥ hatov be'einav re'eh habakar la'olah vehamorigim uḥelei habakar la'etzim.

כבוַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֔ד יִקַּ֥ח וְיַ֛עַל אֲדֹנִ֥י הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ הַטּ֣וֹב בְּעֵינָ֑יו (כתיב בְּעֵינָ֑ו) רְאֵה֙ הַבָּקָ֣ר לָעֹלָ֔ה וְהַמֹּרִגִּ֛ים וּכְלֵ֥י הַבָּקָ֖ר לָעֵצִֽים׃

24:23All these did Aravnah the king give unto the king. And Aravnah said unto the king, “May Hashem your God accept you.”

Hakol natan Aravnah hameleḥ lameleḥ vayomer Aravnah el-hameleḥ Adonai eloheḥa yirtzeḥa.

כגהַכֹּ֗ל נָתַ֛ן אֲרַ֥וְנָה הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ ס וַיֹּ֚אמֶר אֲרַ֙וְנָה֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ יִרְצֶֽךָ׃

24:24And the king said unto Aravnah, “No; but I will surely buy it from you at a price; neither will I offer burnt offerings unto Hashem my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Vayomer hameleḥ el-Aravnah lo ki-kano ekneh me'oteḥa bimḥir velo a'aleh la-Adonai elohay olot ḥinam vayiken David et-hagoren ve'et-habakar beḥesef shekalim ḥamishim.

כדוַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶל־אֲרַ֗וְנָה לֹ֚א כִּֽי־קָנ֨וֹ אֶקְנֶ֚ה מֵאֽוֹתְךָ֙ בִּמְחִ֔יר וְלֹ֧א אַעֲלֶ֛ה לַיהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖י עֹל֣וֹת חִנָּ֑ם וַיִּ֨קֶן דָּוִ֚ד אֶת־הַגֹּ֙רֶן֙ וְאֶת־הַבָּקָ֔ר בְּכֶ֖סֶף שְׁקָלִ֥ים חֲמִשִּֽׁים׃

24:25And David built there an altar unto Hashem, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So Hashem was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

Vayiven sham David mizbeaḥ la-Adonai vaya'al olot ushelamim vaye'ater Adonai la'aretz vate'atzar hamagefah me'al Yisra'el.

כהוַיִּבֶן֩ שָׁ֨ם דָּוִ֚ד מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וַיַּ֥עַל עֹל֖וֹת וּשְׁלָמִ֑ים וַיֵּעָתֵ֚ר יְהֹוָה֙ לָאָ֔רֶץ וַתֵּעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Commentary · 24:18–25

The threshing floor of Aravnah

The text calls him “Aravnah the king.” Rashi: “he was the chief of the Yevusi”; Radak: he had been their king, and stayed because he kept the commandments of the sons of Noach; the Talmud calls him a ger toshav (Avodah Zarah 24b, Rav Nachman). Rabbi Palvanov taught us the Arizal’s teaching that Aravnah carried a spark of Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, who came out to bless Avraham, and of Efron, who sold him Machpelah: “just like Shem ran out from the city to greet Abraham… Aravna does the same thing to David.” David will not take it free: “neither will I offer burnt offerings unto Hashem my God that cost me nothing.” Fifty shekels here, six hundred in Chronicles: fifty from each tribe, says the baraita (Zevachim 116b; Rashi on 24:24).

Chronicles names the place: “mount Moriah, where Hashem appeared unto David… in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite” (2 Chronicles 3:1), where Avraham bound Yitzchak (Genesis 22:14). Radak says the angel stood there as a sign that “there will be the Temple, the house of prayer and service,” and on the last verse brings a midrash: those who fell in David’s days fell because they did not demand the Temple, “how much more for us,” which is why we pray daily, “Return Your Presence to Zion” (Radak on 24:16, 24:25). Hebrew lesson: goren, “threshing floor”: David’s house began on Boaz’s goren in Beit Lechem (Ruth 3) and the book ends on Aravnah’s in Yerushalayim. Yochanan said of the Messiah, “he will throughly purge his floor” (Matthew 3:12), and the Son of David said of the Temple on that mount, “in three days I will raise it up… he spake of the temple of his body” (John 2:19, 21). “Ye are bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), as published on Chabad.org. Every verse was checked character by character against Chabad’s Tenakh. Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the familiar English name in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Shaul (Saul)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged. Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible.
Transliteration: Produced from the Hebrew with the open-source hebrew-transliteration library, adapted to Sephardic/Israeli pronunciation and reviewed by hand: ḥ for Chet and Chaf, tz for Tzadi, k for Kuf, and the Divine Name read “Adonai.” Names are capitalized.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Metzudat David, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. It is shown by default; tap Commentary to hide it.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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2 Samuel 24 (Shmuel Bet) in Hebrew, Transliteration and English

2 Samuel, Chapter 24

Sources & method