Reference: Rain
American
In Scripture the "early" and the "latter" rain of Palestine is spoken of,
De 11:14; Ho 6:3. The former falls in the latter part of October, the seed-time of Palestine; and the weather then continues variable, with more or less rain the whole winter, until after the latter or spring rain in April. Afterwards, the weather becomes serene, and the crops ripen. The wheat harvest takes place in May; by the middle of August, the fruits are gathered in; and from that time to the coming of the first or October rains, prevail the scorching heats and droughts of summer. Nothing can more expressively represent spiritual blessings than copious showers of rain after this trying season is past, De 32:2; Job 29:23; Isa 44:3; Ho 10:12.
It appears from meteorological records kept at Jerusalem, that the average annual fall of rain is fifty-five inches. It would seem therefore, that if the rains of Palestine could be preserved in pools and reservoirs, and employed in irrigating the ground during the summer, the old fertility might be restored; it would be clothed again with verdure, and become like "the garden of the Lord."
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then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil.
My doctrine drop, as doth the rain; and my speech flow, as doth the dew - as the mizzling upon the herbs, and as the drops upon the grass.
They waited for me, as the earth doth for the rain; and gaped upon me, as the ground doth to receive the latter shower.
For I shall pour water upon the dry ground, and rivers upon the thirsty. I shall pour my spirit upon thy seed, and mine increase upon thy stock.
Then shall we have understanding, and endeavor ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth."
that they might sow unto righteousness, and reap the fruits of well doing: that they might plow up their fresh land and seek the LORD, till he came, and learned them righteousness.
Easton
There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Ho 6:3), or moreh (Joe 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the "latter rain" (Pr 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, "the rains." The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Ge 7:12; Ezr 10:9; Song 2:11. The "early" or "former" rains commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of November (De 11:14; Joe 2:23; comp. Jer 3:3), and continue to fall heavily for two months. Then the heavy "winter rains" fall from the middle of December to March. There is no prolonged fair weather in Palestine between October and March. The "latter" or spring rains fall in March and April, and serve to swell the grain then coming to maturity (De 11:14; Ho 6:3). After this there is ordinarily no rain, the sky being bright and cloudless till October or November.
Rain is referred to symbolically in De 32:2; Ps 72:6; Isa 44:3-4; Ho 10:12.
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and there fell a rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil.
then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil.
My doctrine drop, as doth the rain; and my speech flow, as doth the dew - as the mizzling upon the herbs, and as the drops upon the grass.
Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem in three days, that is on the twentieth day of the ninth month: and all the people sat in the street before of the house of God, and trembled because of this matter, and for the rain.
He shall come down like the rain into a fleece of wool, even as the drops that water the earth.
The cheerful countenance of the king is life; and his loving favor is as the evening dew.
For now is winter gone and rain departed and past.
For I shall pour water upon the dry ground, and rivers upon the thirsty. I shall pour my spirit upon thy seed, and mine increase upon thy stock. They shall grow together, like as the grass, and as the Willows by the waterside.
This is the cause that the rain and evening dew hath ceased. Thou hast gotten thee a whore's forehead, and canst not be ashamed.
Then shall we have understanding, and endeavor ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth."
Then shall we have understanding, and endeavor ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth."
that they might sow unto righteousness, and reap the fruits of well doing: that they might plow up their fresh land and seek the LORD, till he came, and learned them righteousness.
Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God. For he hath given you a teacher of righteousness, and will make descend unto you the first rain and the later, as at the beginning.
Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God. For he hath given you a teacher of righteousness, and will make descend unto you the first rain and the later, as at the beginning.
Fausets
(See PALESTINE; Climate.) Matar. Geshem, "violent rain" or generically "the early and latter rain" (Jer 5:24; Joe 2:23). Yoreh, "the early rain of autumn"; malkosh, "the latter rain of spring" (Pr 16:15; Job 29:23; Jer 3:3; Ho 6:3; Zec 10:1). Rebibim, from rab "many," from the multitude of drops; "showers" (De 32:2). Zerem, "violent rain," "hailstorm" (Job 24:8). Sagrir only in Pr 27:15. As compared with Egypt, Palestine was a land of rain (De 11:10-11), but for six months no rain falls so that "rain in harvest" and "thunder" were marvelous phenomena, and out of time and place (Pr 26:1; 1Sa 12:16-18). The early rain begins gradually, the latter end of October or beginning of November. Generally from the W. or S.W. (Lu 12:54); the wind then changes to the N. or E. At no period in the winter, from the end of October to the end of March, does rain entirely cease. In January and February snow falls, but lies only a short time.
The early rain means the first autumnal showers which prepare the arid soil for the seed; "the latter rain" the later spring showers, especially in March, which Bring forward the crop toward harvest (Jas 5:7; Pr 16:15). Showers fall occasionally in April and May. God claims as His peculiar prerogative the sending or withholding of rain, which He made dependent on the obedience or disobedience of Israel (Le 26:3-5,19; De 11:13-15; 28:23-24; Jer 3:3; 5:24; 14:22). "The latter rain in the first (month)" in Joe 2:23 means in the month when first it is needed; or else, as Vulgate and Septuagint, "as at the first" (compare Isa 1:26; Ho 2:15; Mal 3:4); or in Nisan or Abib, the Passover month, the first, namely, the end of March and beginning of April. The departure of winter was marked by the cessation of rain (Song 2:11-13). Rain is the beautiful image of the Spirit's refreshing influences in Messiah's kingdom (Ho 6:3; 2Sa 23:4; Ps 72:6).
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"'If ye shall walk in mine ordinances and keep my commandments and do them, then I will send you rain in the right season and your land shall yield her increase and the trees of the field shall give their fruit. read more. And the threshing shall reach unto wine harvest, and the wine harvest shall reach unto sowing time, and ye shall eat your bread in plenteousness, and shall dwell in your land peaceably.
and will break the pride of your strength. For I will make the heaven over you as hard as iron, and your land as hard as brass.
For the land whither thou goest to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt whence thou camest out, where thou sowedest thy seed and wateredest it with thy labour as a garden of herbs: but the land whither ye go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven,
If thou shalt hearken therefore unto my commandments which I command you this day, that ye love the LORD your God and serve him with all your hearts and with all your souls; then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil. read more. And he will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle: and thou shalt eat and fill thyself.
"And the heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee, iron. And the LORD shall turn the rain of the land unto powder and dust: even from heaven they shall come down upon thee, until thou be brought to nought.
My doctrine drop, as doth the rain; and my speech flow, as doth the dew - as the mizzling upon the herbs, and as the drops upon the grass.
So that when the showers in the mountains have rained upon them, and they be all wet, they have none other succour, but to embrace the rock for want of a covering.
They waited for me, as the earth doth for the rain; and gaped upon me, as the ground doth to receive the latter shower.
He shall come down like the rain into a fleece of wool, even as the drops that water the earth.
The cheerful countenance of the king is life; and his loving favor is as the evening dew.
The cheerful countenance of the king is life; and his loving favor is as the evening dew.
Like as snow is not mete in summer, nor rain in harvest; even so is worship unseemly for a fool.
A brawling woman and the roof of the house dropping in a rainy day, may well be compared together.
For now is winter gone and rain departed and past. The flowers appear in our country and the time is come to cut the vines. The voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. read more. The fig tree hath brought forth her figs, and the vine blossoms give a savour.
and set thy judges again as they were sometime, and thy Senators as they were from the beginning. Then shalt thou be called the righteous city, the faithful city.
This is the cause that the rain and evening dew hath ceased. Thou hast gotten thee a whore's forehead, and canst not be ashamed.
This is the cause that the rain and evening dew hath ceased. Thou hast gotten thee a whore's forehead, and canst not be ashamed.
They think not in their hearts, 'O let us fear the LORD our God, that giveth us rain, early and late, when need is: which keepeth ever still the harvest for us yearly.'
They think not in their hearts, 'O let us fear the LORD our God, that giveth us rain, early and late, when need is: which keepeth ever still the harvest for us yearly.'
Are there any among the gods of the Gentiles, that send rain or give the showers of heaven? Dost not thou it, O LORD our God, in whom we trust? Yea LORD, thou dost all these things."
There will I give her, her vineyards again; yea, and the valley of Achor also, to show her hope and comfort. Then shall she sing there as in the time of her youth, and like as in the day when she came out of the land of Egypt.
Then shall we have understanding, and endeavor ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth."
Then shall we have understanding, and endeavor ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth."
Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God. For he hath given you a teacher of righteousness, and will make descend unto you the first rain and the later, as at the beginning.
Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God. For he hath given you a teacher of righteousness, and will make descend unto you the first rain and the later, as at the beginning.
Pray the LORD then betimes to give you the latter rain, so shall the LORD make clouds, and give you rain enough for all the increase of the field:
And the sacrifice of Judah and of Jerusalem shall be delicious unto the LORD as in the old time and in the years that were at the beginning.
Then said he to the people, "When ye see a cloud rise out of the west straightway ye say, 'We shall have a shower,' and so it is.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience there upon, until he receive the early and the latter rain.
Hastings
The Palestine year is divided roughly into two parts
Morish
Palestine differed from Egypt in that its vegetation was dependent on the rain from heaven, instead of having to be watered from the river. Rain fell regularly except when God withheld it in chastisement. De 11:11-17. We read of the 'early rain' and the 'latter rain.' The early rain was connected with the sowing of seed; the month Bul signifies 'rain,' which agrees with about our October; and the latter rain in spring (about our February). By recent statistics the seasons appear to have somewhat altered, and most rain now falls from November to March inclusive. It is also judged that the cutting down of trees to make charcoal has affected the fall of rain in some districts.
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but the land whither ye go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven, and a land which the LORD thy God careth for. The eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year unto the latter end of the year. read more. If thou shalt hearken therefore unto my commandments which I command you this day, that ye love the LORD your God and serve him with all your hearts and with all your souls; then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil. And he will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle: and thou shalt eat and fill thyself. But beware that your hearts deceive you not, that ye turn aside and serve strange gods and worship them, and then the wrath of the LORD wax hot upon you and shut up the heaven that there be no rain and that your land yield not her fruit, and that ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.
Smith
Rain.
In the Bible "early rain" signifies the rain of the autumn,
De 11:14
and "latter rain" the rain of spring.
For six months in the year, from May to October, no rain falls, the whole land becomes dry, parched and brown. The autumnal rains are eagerly looked for, to prepare the earth for the reception of the seed. These, the early rains, commence about the latter end of October continuing through November and December. January and February are the coldest months, and snow falls, sometimes to the depth of a foot or more, at Jerusalem, but it does not lie long; it is very seldom seen along the coast and in the low plains. Rain continues to fall more or less during the month of March it is very rare in April. Robinson observes that there are not, at the present day, "any particular periods of rain or succession of showers which might be regarded as distinct rainy seasons. The whole period from October to March now constitutes only one continued season of rain, without any regularly-intervening term of prolonged fine weather. Unless therefore, there has been some change in the climate, the early and the latter rains, for which the husbandman waited with longing, seem rather to hare implied the first showers of autumn--which revived the parched and thirsty soil and prepared it for the seed --and the later showers of spring, which continued to refresh and forward both the ripening crops and the vernal products of the fields."
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then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil.
A man may well purpose a thing in his heart; but the answer of the tongue cometh of the LORD.
The LORD abhorreth all presumptuous and proud hearts; there may neither strength nor power escape.
The cheerful countenance of the king is life; and his loving favor is as the evening dew.
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience there upon, until he receive the early and the latter rain.
Watsons
RAIN, the vapours exhaled by the sun, which descend from the clouds to water the earth, Ec 11:3. The sacred writers often speak of the rain of the former and latter season, De 11:14; Ho 6:3. Twice in the year there generally fell plenty of rain in Judea; in the beginning of the civil year, about September or October; and half a year after, in the month of Abib, or March, which was the first month in the ecclesiastical or sacred year, whence it is called the latter rain in the first month, Joe 2:23. (See Canaan.) The ancient Hebrews compared elocution, and even learning or doctrine, to rain: "My doctrine shall drop as the rain," De 32:2.
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then he will give rain unto your land in due season, both the first rain and the latter, and thou shalt gather in thy corn, thy wine and thine oil.
My doctrine drop, as doth the rain; and my speech flow, as doth the dew - as the mizzling upon the herbs, and as the drops upon the grass.
When the clouds are full, they pour out rain upon the earth. And when the tree falleth, whether it be toward the South or North, in what place soever it fall, there it lieth.
Then shall we have understanding, and endeavor ourselves to know the LORD. He shall go forth as the spring of the day, and come unto us as the evening and morning rain upon the earth."
Children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the LORD your God. For he hath given you a teacher of righteousness, and will make descend unto you the first rain and the later, as at the beginning.