Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
Ver. 5. Before him went the pestilence] Dever, the word signifieth such a disease as cometh by a Divine decree, θεηλατον. So Hippocrates call the pestilence το θειον, because sent by God in a spiritual manner, a stroke of his own bare hand as it were. Here it is made one of his apparitors or pursuivants, sent before him to destroy the Canaanites, as it had done the Egyptians.
And burning coals went forth at his feet] Or, the carbuncle burning bile, Deuteronomy 32:24. The Vulgate translate it the devil; others Aνθραξ, a deadly inflammation, whereof good Oecolampadius died, and was lamented by Melancthon. But Luther very uncharitably (the best have their failings) wrote that he believed Oecolampadium ignitis Satanae telis et hastis confossum, subitanea metre periisse (Lib. de Missa privat.), that Oecolampadius died suddenly, being stabbed to death with the fiery darts of the devil.