1 Chronicles 21:20 – “While Araunah was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves.”

Extended Explanation of the Verse

In this verse, Araunah, the owner of the threshing floor where David is about to build an altar, is in the middle of his work threshing wheat when he sees the angel of the Lord. The sight of the angel terrifies him, and his four sons hide themselves in fear. This reaction demonstrates the overwhelming awe and fear that comes with seeing God’s messenger carrying out judgment.

Araunah’s experience reflects the seriousness of the moment. The angel, with a drawn sword, had been executing judgment on Jerusalem due to David’s sin of conducting a census, and now Araunah finds himself face-to-face with the messenger of divine wrath. The scene underscores the gravity of the situation and the awe-inspiring presence of God’s power, which would naturally provoke fear in those who witness it.

Historical Context

This event takes place during a time of crisis in Israel. David had ordered a census of Israel’s fighting men, an act that was motivated by pride and a desire to measure military strength rather than trusting in God. As a result, God sent a plague upon Israel as a form of judgment. At this point in the story, David had repented, and God, through the prophet Gad, instructed David to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

Threshing floors in ancient Israel were open areas used to separate grain from chaff, and they were often associated with significant events in biblical history. Araunah, who owned the threshing floor, was unaware that his land would soon become the site of a great act of worship and restoration. His reaction to seeing the angel shows the real fear and awe that comes with encountering the presence of God’s judgment.

Theological Implications

Theologically, this verse highlights the reality of God’s presence and the awe that accompanies it. Araunah and his sons’ reaction to seeing the angel—fear and hiding—reflects the natural human response to God’s holiness and power. Throughout Scripture, we see that when people encounter God or His messengers, they often respond with fear, recognizing their own unworthiness in the presence of divine authority.

This verse also touches on the theme of divine judgment. The angel that Araunah sees is carrying out God’s judgment on Israel due to David’s sin. It reminds us that sin has consequences and that God’s justice is real. However, even in the midst of judgment, God is working toward restoration, as seen in His instructions to David to build an altar and offer sacrifices to end the plague.

Literary Analysis

From a literary perspective, this verse serves as a moment of heightened tension in the narrative. Araunah’s reaction—seeing the angel and his sons hiding in fear—emphasizes the seriousness of the judgment that is unfolding. The description of Araunah’s sons hiding adds a human element to the story, showing that even bystanders are affected by the presence of God’s judgment.

The contrast between Araunah’s ordinary activity—threshing wheat—and the extraordinary sight of the angel highlights the sudden and overwhelming nature of divine encounters. The verse sets the stage for the resolution of the plague, which will come through David’s obedience in building an altar on Araunah’s threshing floor.

Relevant Biblical Cross-References

• Exodus 33:20: “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” This verse reflects the biblical theme that encountering God’s presence or His messengers often brings fear because of His holiness.
• Isaiah 6:5: “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.’” Isaiah’s response to seeing a vision of God reflects the same awe and fear that Araunah and his sons experienced when they saw the angel.
• Luke 2:9: “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.” The shepherds’ fear at seeing the angel announcing Jesus’ birth parallels the fear Araunah felt, showing that divine encounters often inspire awe.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

For today’s Christian, this verse serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring nature of God’s presence and power. Just as Araunah and his sons were filled with fear when they saw the angel, we are reminded that God’s holiness is overwhelming, and encountering His presence can be both awe-inspiring and humbling. It challenges us to approach God with reverence and a deep sense of respect for His authority.

This verse also encourages us to recognize that God is active, even in ordinary moments. Araunah was threshing wheat, an everyday task, when he encountered the angel. In the same way, God can break into our everyday lives in unexpected ways, calling us to recognize His presence and respond in faith.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

Even though this verse focuses on the fear and awe of encountering the angel of the Lord, it also reflects God’s love. The angel that Araunah saw was in the process of carrying out judgment, but the fact that God stopped the plague and provided a way for restoration shows His mercy and love for His people. God’s love is seen in His desire to bring reconciliation and healing, even when judgment is necessary.

God’s love is also evident in the fact that He allowed David to build an altar on Araunah’s threshing floor, providing a means for the plague to end. This shows that while God’s judgment is real, His ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him and be restored.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

This verse points forward to the ultimate expression of God’s mercy and restoration in Jesus Christ. Just as the altar built on Araunah’s threshing floor brought an end to the plague, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross brings an end to the plague of sin and death for all who believe in Him.

• Colossians 1:20: “And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” Jesus’ sacrifice brings peace and reconciliation between God and humanity, just as David’s altar brought peace between God and Israel.
• Hebrews 9:26: “But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross fulfills the need for atonement, just as the sacrifices on Araunah’s threshing floor brought atonement for David’s sin.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. How does the reaction of Araunah and his sons to seeing the angel challenge your understanding of God’s holiness and power?
2. What does this verse teach you about the seriousness of sin and the consequences that follow?
3. In what ways have you experienced God’s presence in the ordinary moments of life, like Araunah’s encounter while threshing wheat?
4. How does this passage help you approach God with reverence, knowing that He is both just and merciful?
5. How does Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, which ended the plague of sin, deepen your understanding of God’s love and mercy in the midst of judgment?

1 Chronicles 21:20 teaches us about the awe and fear that come with encountering God’s holiness. It also points us to God’s mercy and desire for restoration, which is fully realized in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who brings reconciliation and peace to all who trust in Him.