Rain: There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different
seasons,1. Yoreh
(Hosea 6:3) or moreh
(Joel 2:23) denoting the former or the
early rain.
2. Melqosh, the "latter rain"
(Proverbs 16:15)
3. Geshem, the winter rain, "the rains." The heavy winter rain is
mentioned in
(Ezra 10:9; The Song of Solomon 2:11) The "early" or "former" rains
commence in autumn in the latter part of October or beginning of
November
(Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23) comp.
(Jeremiah 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
(Deuteronomy 11:14; Hosea 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
(Deuteronomy 32:2; Psalms 72:6)
(Isaiah 44:3,4; Hosea 10:12)
