Mildew
Mildew [Heb. yiraqon]. A plant disease caused by humid winds or fungi that turned crops pale green and rendered them unproductive. The word occurs in three passages depicting mildew as a plague sent in divine redemptive judgment, intended to engender Israel’s repentance (Deut 28:22; Amos 4:9; Hag 2:17). When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he petitioned God to hear the people when they cry penitently for intervention and healing of afflictions, including defeat in war, drought, famine, locusts, and mildew (1 Kgs 8:37; 2 Chr 6:28).