Habakkuk 3:5

“Before him went the pestilence, etc.] Either in the land of Egypt, when he marched through that, and slew all their firstborn, (<197850>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, (<022327>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, (<441223>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--to destroy His people's foes (Sa1 5:9, Sa1 5:11). As Jehovah's advent is glorious to His people, so it is terrible to His foes. burning coals-- Psa 18:8 favors English Version. But the parallelism requires, as the Margin translates, "burning disease" (compare Deu 32:24; Psa 91:6). went . . . at his feet--that is, after Him, as His attendants (Jdg 4:10).”

“Before Him went (goeth) the pestilence - then to consume His enemies. Exodus 23:27 : “I will send My fear before thee, and will destroy all the people, to whom thou shalt come,” and the lightnings are a token that, Psalms 68:1-2, “they which hate Him, flee before Him, and the wicked perish at the Presence of God.” So, on His Ascension, Herod and Pilate were smitten by Him, and Elymas and Simon Magus before His apostles, and whatsoever hath lifted itself up against Him hath perished, and antichrist shall perish, Psalms 11:4, “at the breath of His mouth,” and all the ungodly on the Day of Judgment. And burning coals - rather, as English, “burning fever”, Deuteronomy 32:2. (where also it is…”

“Before him - When God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he made the pestilence go before him, so preparing room for his people. Habakkuk 3:6”

“3:5-6 God is the divine warrior who intervenes on behalf of his own (see 3:8-15; see also Isa 63:1-6). 3:5 Habakkuk personifies pestilence (see Deut 32:24) and plague (see Exod 7–12; Amos 4:10) as soldiers in God’s army, fulfilling his purposes.”

“went: Exo 12:29, Exo 12:30; Num 14:12, Num 16:46-49; Psa 78:50, Psa 78:51; Nah 1:2, Nah 1:3 and: Psa 18:7-13 burning coals: or, burning diseases, Deu 32:24 Habakkuk 3:6”