דברי הימים א, פרק כ״א, פסוק כ״ה

The historical record of David acquiring the site for the future Temple presents a notable discrepancy regarding the final price. One account states that the threshing floor and oxen were purchased for fifty silver shekels, while another records a payment of six hundred gold shekels. Commentators resolve this contrast through two main approaches: one focusing on the physical size of the land, and the other on the national significance of the purchase.

The primary approach among commentators is to view the transaction as occurring in two distinct stages involving different parcels of land. Initially, David paid fifty silver shekels strictly for the threshing floor itself, the oxen, the wood, and the exact, limited spot needed for the immediate altar. However, after witnessing fire descend from heaven, David realized this location was destined to be the site of the permanent Temple. Consequently, he expanded the purchase to include the entire surrounding field. This much larger tract of land, encompassing a significant portion or even the entirety of Mount Moriah—which was located outside the city at the time—was bought for the significantly higher price of six hundred gold shekels [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

A second perspective explains the differing numbers through a calculation of national unity rather than physical real estate. According to this tradition, David collected exactly fifty shekels from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, bringing the total to six hundred shekels [רש״י, רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. The purpose behind this collective payment was to ensure that every tribe would have an equal share and an active partnership in the holy site of the altar and the future Temple [רש״י, רד״ק]. Addressing the difference between the metals mentioned in the accounts, it is explained that while the actual coins gathered from the tribes were silver, their total weight and value were equivalent to that of gold, leading them to be described as gold shekels [רד״ק].