The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 24:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And going out he worshipped the king, bowing with his face to the earth, and said: Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said to him: To buy the thrashingfloor of thee, and build an altar to the Lord, that the plague, which rageth among the people, may cease.

Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲרַ֔וְנָה מַדּ֛וּעַ בָּ֥א אֲדֹנִֽי־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־עַבְדּ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לִקְנ֧וֹת מֵעִמְּךָ֣ אֶת־הַגֹּ֗רֶן לִבְנ֤וֹת מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וְתֵעָצַ֥ר הַמַּגֵּפָ֖ה מֵעַ֥ל הָעָֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Lopuchin A.P.

19th centuryCommentator

Upon being questioned by Jebusheth about the purpose of his unanticipated visit, David explained that he had come to purchase the threshing floor from him, so that an altar of atonement could be constructed there. This occurred during the continued strife of David's rule.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.