Araunah, or Ornan Orna
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(living, vigorous, according to Gesenius; strong, firm, according to Fürst) (2 Sam. 24:16, 18, 25)—a Jebusite who owned a threshing floor at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah. During the plague David saw there the angel with his sword stretched out over Jerusalem, and through the prophet he was directed to build an altar to God upon the site. Araunah offered the place freely for sacrifice, but David would not offer to the Lord a sacrifice obtained without cost; he bought the threshing floor and oxen for fifty shekels of silver. After sacrifice was offered, the plague among Israel ceased. David later designated this site for the building of the Jerusalem temple (1 Chron. 21:25).