דברי הימים א, פרק כ״א, פסוק כ״ח

The aftermath of a devastating plague brings about a monumental discovery, marking the moment when the precise location for the future Temple is finally revealed. This narrative is recorded specifically in the Book of Chronicles to honor King David for establishing the altar, a detail omitted from the parallel account in the Book of Samuel. The events described here unfold in a seamless conceptual flow, with the narrative reading as though it were one continuous, unbroken thought [רש״י].

King David recognized that the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite was the chosen site for the house of God due to a combination of clear signs. First, God directly answered him by sending fire from heaven and halting the plague. Second, the act of bringing sacrifices to this specific location was initiated by His explicit command. At the time, the Tabernacle and the main altar were located in Gibeon. David, however, was unable to travel there because he was paralyzed by the fear of the angel's sword. Remarkably, when standing at Ornan's threshing floor, David felt no such terror, even though the angel was visible there as well. This stark contrast in his own reaction, coupled with the divine signs, solidified his understanding that this was the designated location for the chosen house [מלבי״ם].

Recognizing the profound holiness of the site, David did not simply offer an isolated sacrifice. He established the location as a permanent place of worship, regularly bringing his offerings there from that moment onward [מצודת דוד].