David could not go before it Did not dare to go before the tabernacle, where the altar stood. To inquire of God Hebrew, לדרשׁ, lidrosh, to seek God, or humbly to entreat his favour by prayer and sacrifice. For he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the Lord That is, when he saw the angel stand with his drawn sword over Jerusalem, he durst not go away to Gibeon, lest the angel in the mean time should destroy Jerusalem: for the prevention whereof he thought it proper to worship God in that place, which he had consecrated by his special presence and acceptance.
Related Commentaries of 1 Chronicles 21:30
1 Chronicles 21:30
30 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.