And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground.
When Araunah looked up and saw the king and his servants walking toward him, he went out to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground before the king.
This verse shows Araunah giving King David the highest form of respect by bowing face-down on the ground when he saw him approaching.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Samuel, King David had sinned by ordering a census of Israel, which was seen as an act of pride and led to God's judgment through a devastating plague. As part of his repentance, David was instructed by the prophet Gad to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to seek God's mercy and stop the plague. Araunah's act of bowing before David reflects the cultural customs of the ancient Near East, where subjects showed deep respect and submission to their rulers.
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