(6) Punishment. Burning criminals alive does not appear to have been known to the He brews; but as an additional disgrace the bodies were in particular cases burnt after death had been inflicted (Josh. vii :25; compare verse 15) ; and it is in this sense that the allusions to burn ing as a punishment are to be undcrstood, except when the reference is to a forcign usage, as in Dan. iii :22, 24, sq.
Figurative. (1) 'Fire from heaven,"fire of the Lord,' usually denotes lightning in the Old Testament; but, when connected with sacrifices, the 'fire of the Lord' is often to be understood as the fire of the altar, and sometimes the holocaust itself (Exod. xxix:18; Lev. i :9 ; ii :3 ; :5. 9; Num. xxviii :6 ; I Sam. ii :28 ; Is. xxx :3o; Mal. i:to. (2) Fire ,was a symbol of the Lord's pres ence and the instrument of his power, either in the way of approval or of destruction (Exod.
24 ; Num. xi :t, 3, etc.). Thus Jehovah appeared in the burning bush and on Mount Sinai (Exod. iii:2; xix :18). In the midst of fire he showed himself to Isaiah, Ezekiel, and John (Is. vi :4 ; Ezek. i :4 ; Rev. i :14), and will so appear at his second coming (2 Thess. :8). (3) Fire is the comparison of intense love (Cant. viii :6) ; of the injuring tongue (Ps. cxx :4 ; Prov. xvi :27 ; Jas.
iii :5), and of godlessness (Is. ix :t8. (4) God is compared to fire because of his purity, majesty, terribleness (Dent. iv:24; Heb. xii :29; Is. x:I7)• (5) Christ is comparcd to firc; he tries the chil dren of men, purifies and comforts his people. and destroys his enemies (Mal. iii :2 ; Ezek. viii :2, and i :27). (6) The Holy Ghost is likened to firc, to denote his enlightening, purifying, sin-destroying, and holy love-enkindling influences (Nlatt. :11 ; Acts ii :3 ; Is. iv:4). (7) Angels are compared to fire; they are pure in their nature, and their exe cution of God's command is irresistible, awful and speedy (Ps. civ :4). (8) The church of God is likened to fire; she is often full of troubles; but, eventually she shall prevail over her opposers (Obad. 18). (9) The wicked are like fire; they are very dangerous and destructive to others, and hate ful to God (Prov. vi :27 ; Is. lxv :5), and God makes them like a fiery oven, when he inflicts his judg ments on them (Ps. xxi :9). (1o) God's word is like firc; it tries the states and conditions of men ; and it warms, melts and purifies the heart, and its threatenings are fulfilled (Jer. v :14, and xxiii : 29).