There went up a smoke out of his nostrils
This, with what follows, describes a storm of thunder; the
"smoke" designs thick black clouds, gathered together; "fire"
intends lightning; and "coals of fire", hot thunderbolts; and the
whole is borrowed from, and is an allusion to what was at the
giving of the law on Mount Sinai, ( Exodus 19:16
Exodus
19:18 ) ; The majesty of God is here set forth in much such
language as is the leviathan in ( Job
41:19-21 ) ; the "smoke of his nostrils" seems to intend the
indignation of God against the enemies of David, of Christ, and
of his people, and the punishment be will inflict upon them, (
Isaiah 65:5 )
( Revelation 14:11 ) .
The Targum interprets it of the pride and insolence of Pharaoh;
and fire out of his mouth devoured;
God is a wall of fire round about his people, and a consuming one
to his and their enemies. This expresses the wrath of God upon
the Jewish nation, and his sending the Roman armies to burn their
city, ( Matthew 22:7
) ;
coals were kindled by it;
the Jews being as dry trees, were fit fuel for the fire of divine
wrath, and so presently became as coals of fire; so the
antichristian party, upon the pouring out of the fourth vial,
will be scorched with heat, and blaspheme the name of God, (
Revelation 16:8
Revelation 16:9 ) .