He has also prepared for himself the instruments of death; he makes ready his arrows against the persecutors.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
14. "And in it He hath prepared the instruments of death: He hath wrought His arrows for the burning" (ver. 13). That bow then I would readily take to be the Holy Scripture, in which by the strength of the New Testament, as by a sort of string, the hardness of the Old has been bent and subdued. From thence the Apostles are sent forth like arrows, or divine preachings are shot. Which arrows "He has wrought for the burning," arrows, that is, whereby being stricken they might be inflamed with heavenly love. For by what other arrows was she stricken, who saith, "Bring me into the house of wine, place me among perfumes, crowd me among honey, for I have been wounded with love"? By what other arrows is he kindled, who, desirous of returning to God, and coming back from wandering, asketh for help against crafty tongues, and to whom it is said, "What shall be given thee, or what added to thee against the crafty tongue? Sharp arrows of the mighty, with devastating coals:" that is, coals, whereby...
For them that burn. That is, against the persecutors of his saints. (G.)
Hebrew also, "he has made his arrows to burn. "(Houbigant after Symmachus.) (Haydock)
The ancients used fiery darts or arrows, Psalm cix., and Ephesians vi. 16. Sed magnum stridens contorta phal Arica venit, Fulminis acta modo. (Virgil, Æneid ix.; Herod. viii.)
The death of Saul seems to be foretold. (Calmet)
