24:252 Samuel 24:25

The altar and its offerings stand at the end of the sin of numbering Israel, which was pride and distrust, done in prosperity to compare former weakness with present greatness and to glory in numbers instead of the living God, contrary to God's express command and by the devil's temptation.1SP 384.3–385.3 Conviction came before the numbering was finished, leading to humiliation and confession, but the word of punishment had already gone forth.SG4 92.2–3 David chose to fall into the hands of a merciful God rather than wicked men and their cruel mercies.1SP 384.3–385.3+1 Seventy thousand died by pestilence.1SP 384.3–385.3+1

While David and the elders mourned in deepest humiliation, God in pity and love for His rebellious people told the angel on his way to destroy Jerusalem to stay his work of death.SG4 92.2–3 The angel, in warlike garments with drawn sword stretched over Jerusalem, was seen by David and those with him.SG4 92.2–3 Though terribly afraid, David in deep humiliation and compassion pleaded for the sheep, confessing his own sin and wickedness and asking that the hand be against him and his father's house and not upon the people.1SP 384.3–385.3+1 God through His prophet bade David make atonement, and David's hearty repentance with his heart in the work was accepted.1SP 384.3–385.3+1

Though Araunah freely offered his threshing-floor with cattle and all needful for sacrifice, David bought it for full price, because God accepts the sacrifice the sinner is willing to make yet no one must come before the Lord with an offering that costs nothing.1SP 384.3–385.3+1 There, at the threshing-floor of Ornan on Mount Moriah, David built an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.PP 748.4–5+2 God accepted the offerings by sending fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice.1SP 384.3–385.3+1 The Lord was entreated for the land and commanded the angel to put his sword into its sheath and cease the destruction, so the plague was stayed from Israel.PP 748.4–5+2 The place became holy ground and was later chosen as the site of Solomon's temple, and it was also the place where Abraham had built an altar when he was to offer his son.PP 748.4–5