John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. Before him went the pestilence , etc.] Either in the land of Egypt, when he marched through that, and slew all their firstborn, ( Psalm 78:50,51) or rather which he sent before him, and Israel his people among the nations of the land of Canaan, with other diseases and judgments, and destroyed them to make way for his people, which may be here alluded to, ( Exodus 23:27,28) and may point at the judgments of God, and those pestilential diseases which seized upon the persecutors of the Christians, both among the Jews, as Herod, ( Acts 12:23) and among the Gentiles, as many of the Roman emperors, who died violent and grievous deaths; and particularly it may regard the pestilence, famine, and other sore judgments preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of it, for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah: and burning coals went forth at his feet ; which some understand of hailstones mingled with fire, to which the allusion may be, being one of the plagues of Egypt, ( Exodus 9:23,24). Some interpret it of hot diseases, burning fevers, so Kimchi; which are at the command of God, and sent forth by him when he pleases, to do his will. The ancient fathers expound all this of the destruction of death, and the devil, and his principalities, by Christ upon the cross; and the Targum is, “from before him was sent forth the angel of death, and his word went forth in a flame of fire;” but this seems to have respect to the burning of the city and temple of Jerusalem, which was done by the Romans as instruments, but according to the direction, order, and will of Christ, ( Matthew 22:7) see ( Psalm 18:12,13).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-15 - God's people, when in distress, and ready to despair, seek help by considering the days of old, and the years of ancient times, and by pleading them with God in prayer. The resemblance between the Babylonish and Egyptian captivities, naturally presents itself to the mind, as well as the possibility of a like deliverance through the power of Jehovah. God appeared in his glory. All the powers of natur are shaken, and the course of nature changed, but all is for the salvation of God's own people. Even what seems least likely, shall be made to work for their salvation. Hereby is given a type and figure of the redemption of the world by Jesus Christ. It is for salvation with thine anointed. Joshua who led the armies of Israel, was a figure of Him whose name he bare, even Jesus, our Joshua. In all the salvation wrought for them, God looked upon Christ the Anointed, and brough deliverances to pass by him. All the wonders done for Israel of old were nothing to that which was done when the Son of God suffered on the cross for the sins of his people. How glorious his resurrection an ascension! And how much more glorious will be his second coming, to pu an end to all that opposes him, and all that causes suffering to his people!
Original Hebrew לפניו6440 ילך1980 דבר1698 ויצא3318 רשׁף7565 לרגליו׃7272
