and the Lord heard [it]: though it was an inward secret complaint, or an evil scheme formed in their minds; at most but a muttering, and what Moses had not heard, or had any knowledge of; but God, that knows the secrets of all hearts, and every word in the tongue before it is well formed or pronounced, he heard what they complained of, and what they whispered and muttered to one another about:and his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burnt among them; from the pillar of fire, or from heaven, such as destroyed Nadab and Abihu, Le 10:1; the two hundred fifty men that had censers in Korah's company, Nu 16:35; and the captains of fifties that came to take Elijah, 2Ki 1:14; and might be lightning from heaven, or a burning wind sent by the Lord, such as is frequent in the eastern countries.
Thevenot speaks of one in 1658, which destroyed at once twenty thousand men:and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp; who very likely were the principal aggressors; or it began to arouse and terrify the body of the people, and bring them to repentance, who might fear it would proceed and go through the whole camp, the hinder part or rearward of which was the camp of Dan; and so the Targum of Jonathan.
Mynnatmk "ut conquerentes injuste", Montanus, Fagius, Vatablus; "ut qui vaba moliuntur", Drusius. Travels, par. 1. l. 2. c.