1 Chronicles 21 (KJV)
Read 1 Chronicles chapter 21 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
1 Chronicles 21
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1 Chronicles 21 Summary
Satan incites David to number Israel, a census that demonstrates prideful reliance on military strength rather than God. God sends a plague that kills 70,000 people before David's repentance stops the destruction at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
David purchases Ornan's threshing floor and builds an altar there, refusing to offer God something that cost him nothing. This site becomes the future location of Solomon's Temple, transforming a place of judgment into a place of worship.
Key Themes
Pride and its consequencesRepentanceCostly worshipTemple site establishedGod's mercy in judgment
Key Verses in 1 Chronicles 21
"I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost."
— 1 Chronicles 21:24
David's insistence on paying full price teaches that authentic worship costs something.
"David built there an altar unto the LORD...and the LORD answered him from heaven by fire."
— 1 Chronicles 21:26
God's fiery acceptance confirms David's repentance and consecrates the future temple site.
Life Application
True worship costs something. Don't offer God leftovers or convenience—give Him your best, even when it's costly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was David's census sinful?
The census reflected trust in military numbers rather than in God. It was an act of pride and self-reliance that God had not commanded.
What is the significance of Ornan's threshing floor?
David purchased this site for an altar, and it became the location where Solomon later built the Temple—making it the most sacred place in Israel's worship.
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