Ague

Ague — a wasting fever — appears in the list of curses Yahweh warns Israel will follow covenant unfaithfulness. Among the afflictions threatened for disobedience is consumption and fever that consumes the eyes and makes the soul pine away (Lev 26:16).

Covenant Curse

The warning comes within the larger passage setting out the consequences of rejecting Yahweh's statutes. Terror, consumption, and fever are appointed over the people; their agricultural labor yields nothing, because enemies consume what they sow: "I will appoint terror over you⁺, even consumption and fever, that will consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away; and you⁺ will sow your⁺ seed in vain, for your⁺ enemies will eat it" (Lev 26:16).