Pestilence as a Tool of God's Providence in Scripture
Pestilence is frequently depicted in Scripture as a direct instrument of God's providence, used to achieve divine purposes such as judgment, punishment, or the demonstration of His power [2, 3, 4]. God's providence, in a general sense, refers to His preservation and governance of all things through secondary causes, extending to the natural world, animal creation, and human affairs, including the free actions of individuals [1].
The Bible explicitly states that pestilence is inflicted by God [2, 4]. For instance, Ezekiel 14:19 declares, "With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him" [4]. Habakkuk 3:5 also attributes pestilence to God's direct action [2]. It is listed as one of God's "four sore judgments," alongside famine, wild beasts, and the sword [2, 8]. The book of Deuteronomy warns Israel that disobedience will result in pestilence, stating, "Jehovah doth cause to cleave to thee the pestilence, till He consume thee from off the ground whither thou art going in to possess it" [3].
Throughout biblical history, pestilence served as a divine judgment against various groups. The Egyptians experienced a "very grievous pestilence" upon their livestock as one of the plagues sent by God through Moses [5, 11]. Later, the Israelites themselves faced pestilence as punishment for specific transgressions:
- For making the golden calf [2].
- For despising the manna [2].
- For murmuring after the destruction of Korah [2].
The desolating effects of pestilence are described as severe, affecting both humans and animals, and capable of causing widespread death day and night [2]. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of God sending "pestilence, and blood into her streets," indicating that plague and the sword often accompany each other in divine judgment [8]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary notes that war, famine, and pestilence are metaphorically called "the arrows of the Almighty" [9].
A notable instance of pestilence as a divine tool is found in 2 Samuel 24, where David is given a choice of three punishments for his sin of numbering Israel: seven years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of pestilence [6, 7]. David chose the pestilence, stating, "Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of men" [6, 7]. John Gill interprets David's choice as a recognition that all three judgments come from God, but the pestilence is more directly and exclusively controlled by God, without human intervention [6]. Rashi, a prominent Jewish commentator, explains that David reasoned that choosing pestilence would demonstrate that he was not relying on his own strength or wealth, as pestilence affects everyone equally, including kings and their subjects [10]. This choice reflected David's trust in God's mercy, as pestilence would affect him as much as his people, unlike war or famine where his position might offer some protection [7].
The use of pestilence in Scripture underscores the belief that God is sovereign over all aspects of creation and human life, including disease and disaster. These events are not random but are part of His overarching plan and governance [1].
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Plague or Pestilence, The — Inflicted by God -- Eze 14:19; Hab 3:5. One of God's four sore judgments -- Eze 14:21. Described as noisome -- Ps 9:13. Israel threatened with, as a punishment for disobedience -- Le 26:24,25; De 28:21. Desolating effects of -- Ps 91:7; Jer 16:6,7; Am 6:9,10. Equally fatal day and night -- Ps 91:5,6. Fatal to man and beast -- Ps 78:50; Jer 21:6. Sent upon The Egyptians. -- Ex 12:29,30. Israel for making golden calf. -- Ex 32:35. Israel for despising manna. -- Nu 11:33. Israel for murmuring at destruction of Korah. -- Nu 16:46-50. Israel fo”
- Deuteronomy “Deuteronomy 28:21 (YLT) — `Jehovah doth cause to cleave to thee the pestilence, till He consume thee from off the ground whither thou art going in to possess it.”
- Ezekiel “With pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain on him, and on his hordes, and on the many peoples who are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and sulfur. -- Ezekiel 38:22”
- Exodus “Exodus 9:3 (YLT) — lo, the hand of Jehovah is on thy cattle which <FI>are<Fi> in the field, on horses, on asses, on camels, on herd, and on flock--a pestilence very grievous.”
- 2 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Samuel 24:14: And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait,.... Not knowing well which to choose, each of them being so grievous, and an answer being to be returned immediately; but by his next words, and by the event, it seems he chose the pestilence, though that is not expressly said: let us fall now into the hand of the Lord; the Targum in Ch1 21:13, is"into the hand of the Word of the Lord:" (for his mercies are great), and let me not fall into the hand of men; indeed all the three judgments mentioned are by the hand of the Lord whenever they come; but in the pestilen”
- 2 Samuel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Samuel 24:14: David said, . . . Let us fall now into the hand of the Lord--His overwhelming sense of his sin led him to acquiesce in the punishment denounced, notwithstanding its apparent excess of severity. He proceeded on a good principle in choosing the pestilence. In pestilence he was equally exposed, as it was just and right he should be, to danger as his people, whereas, in war and famine, he possessed means of protection superior to them. Besides, he thereby showed his trust, founded on long experience, in the divine goodness.”
- Ezekiel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ezekiel 28:23: And I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets,.... The plague and the sword, which are two of God's sore judgments, and often go together; the pestilence slays them that are within, and the sword those the enemy meets with in the streets: and the wounded shall be judged; that is, punished; or "shall fall" (w), die and perish: in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; this was literally fulfilled in Zidon, either by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean army, which besieged it on every side; or by Artaxerxes Ochus the Persian, who took ”
- Deuteronomy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Deuteronomy 32:23: I will spend mine arrows upon them--War, famine, pestilence (Psa 77:17) are called in Scripture the arrows of the Almighty.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on 2 Samuel 24:14: Let us fall into the hand of Adonoy. I.e. Pestilence 20 Controlled exclusively by God. and not the sword nor famine because it [famine] is also controlled by the rich who have store houses of produce. Rabbi Alexandri said, Dovid reasoned, "If I choose the sword then [the people of] Yisroel will say [about me], 'he is relying on his strength to save himself from death but others will die', and if I choose famine they will say, He is relying on his wealth [to save himself]. I will choose pestilence against which everyone is equal." 21 Midrash Teh”
- Exodus (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Exodus 9:3: Behold, the hand of the Lord,.... Which was stronger than his, with which he held the Israelites: is upon thy cattle which is in the field: this takes in all in general, of which the particulars follow, though limited to such as were in the field, and so did not take in what were at home in their out houses and stables: upon the horses: of which there was great plenty in Egypt, as appears from various places of Scripture: upon the asses; used for carrying burdens from place to place: and upon the camels; used the like purposes, and to ride upon, and particularl”