Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
(the plague). In Hebrew, all distempers and calamities (Ex. 9:14; 11:1; 1 Kings 8:37).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
This is often mentioned along with the sword and the famine as punishment from God upon His rebellious people. It is represented as being sent directly by God Himself. When David had numbered the people, the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel, and there died 70,000 men (2 Sam. 24:15-16).