What is meant by them being afraid of death?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. They fled from the plague that had struck them. [al-Ḥasan, al-Suddī]
2. They were commanded to fight, but they fled. [ʿIkrimah, al-Ḍaḥḥāk]