1. Lesson One of the Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Book of Daniel

Lesson 23: Geography Study Concerning the Scriptures- The Hydrology of the Holy Land, The Importance of Dew

Another important source of water for this arid land is the water that dew brings.

DEW - Dew is the moisture which forms into drops of water upon the earth during a cool night. Moist air drawing from the sea is largely responsible for the dewfall in western Palestine. Downward dew occurs in the summer when the soil is loose, thus providing good cooling conditions. Upward dew results from the condensation of water vapor from damp soil and is, therefore, more frequent in the winter season. 

From May till October rain is unknown, the sun shining with unclouded brightness day after day. 

The heat becomes intense, the ground hard, and vegetation would perish but for the moist west winds that come each night from the sea.  

The bright skies cause the heat of the day to radiate very quickly into space, so that the nights are as cold as the day is the reverse. 

Due to the coldness of the night air is the watering of all plant-life.  

The winds, loaded with moisture, are robbed of it as they pass over the land, the cold air condensing it into drops of water, which fall in a gracious rain of mist on every thirsty blade.  

In the morning the fog thus created rests like a sea over the plains, and far up the sides of the hills, which raise their heads above it like so many islands.  

At sunrise, however, the scene speedily changes.  

By the kindling light the mist is transformed into vast snow-white clouds, which presently break into separate masses and rise up the mountain-sides, to disappear in the blue above, dissipated by the increasing heat. 

Dew is used in the Bible as a symbol of refreshment

Deut. 32:1,2;   Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.  My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Ps. 133,  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Dew is a symbol of the loving power of God which revives and invigorates.

Prov. 19:12,   The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

Dew is a symbol of the sudden onset of an enemy

2 Sam. 17:12, So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.

Dew is a symbol of brotherly love and harmony.

Ps. 133:1-3,  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;  As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Dew is a symbol of God’s revelation.

Judges 6:36-40, And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.

Dew is a symbol of God’s blessing as we see in this passage in Genesis where Isaac was blessing Jacob.

Gen. 27:28,   Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: 

The withdrawal is regarded as a curse from God

2 Sam. 1:21,  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

1 Kings 17:1, And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.  

In this regard remember the Bible also speaks of dried up rivers, parched land, poisonous waters, clouds without water, springs turned to dust, parched springs, dry fountains, polluted fountains, wells that cannot produce water, empty cisterns, and broken cisterns. 

There is no doubt that God intended for his people to depend upon him by faith to provide the water that that parched land required for life.