But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
But David could not go to the altar to pray and ask God for guidance, because he was terrified of the angel of the LORD's sword.
David was too afraid to approach God's altar because he had seen the destroying angel with his sword drawn.
📚 Historical Context
This verse comes after God sent a plague on Israel as punishment for David's prideful census, and David saw an angel with a drawn sword standing over Jerusalem ready to destroy it. David had been told to build an altar at the threshing floor of Ornan, but he was paralyzed with fear at the sight of God's judgment. The normal place for seeking God was at the tabernacle in Gibeon, but David couldn't bring himself to go there after witnessing such divine wrath.
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