So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
Ver. 15. From the morning, even to the appointed time,] i.e., Till toward the evening of the third day; for before that whole day was over God repented, and bade the angel hold his hand. See Jeremiah 18:8; Jer 18:10 John 3:10. Vatablus, by the appointed time here, understandeth the evening of the first day, and cometh in with Hoc commendat misericordiam Dei, &c., this commendeth the mercy of God; that for three days threatened, he sendeth the pestilence one day only.
And there died of the people.] Some, saith Josephus, died suddenly, with great pains, and bitter pangs; some lingered longer, and died under the physicians' hands; some were all of a sudden smitten with blindness, and then with death; some, as they went to bury their dead, fell down dead themselves. The sweating sickness here in England - which began in the year 1486, and lasted almost forty years - was strange and violent; for if a man was attacked therewith he died, or escaped within nine hours, or ten at the most. If he took cold, he died within three hours. If he slept within six hours, as he should be desirous to do, he died raving, &c. a From England it went over the seas to Holland, Zealand, Denmark, Norway, &c., chasing only the English there, as some report, which made them, like tyrants, both feared and avoided wherever they came. b
a Sennert., De Febribus, lib. iv. cap. 15.
b Life of King Edward VI, by Sir John Heywood.