Rain

There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of "different seasons, (1.) Yoreh (Hos. 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23)," "denoting the former or the early rain. (2.) Melqosh, the "latter" "rain" (Prov. 16:15). (3.) Geshem, the winter rain, "the rains." The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Gen. 7:12; Ezra 10:9; "Cant. 2:11. The "early" or "former" rains commence in autumn in" the latter part of October or beginning of November (Deut. "11:14; Joel 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 (Deut. 11:14; Hos. 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 Deut. 32:2; Ps. 72:6; Isa. "44:3, 4; Hos. 10:12."

Caused by the reflection and refraction of the rays of the sun shining on falling rain. It was appointed as a witness of the "divine faithfulness (Gen. 9:12-17). It existed indeed before," "but it was then constituted as a sign of the covenant. Others," "however (as Delitzsch, Commentary on Pentateuch), think that it" appeared then for the first time in the vault and clouds of "heaven." It is argued by those holding this opinion that the" atmosphere was differently constituted before the Flood. It is "referred to three other times in Scripture (Ezek. 1:27, 28; Rev." 4:1-3; 10:1).