In Scripture the "early" and the "latter" rain of Palestine is spoken of, Deuteronomy 11:14 Hosea 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, Deuteronomy 32:2 Job 29:23 Isaiah 44:3 Hosea 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."

There are three Hebrew words used to denote the rains of different seasons, Yoreh (Hosea 6:3), or moreh (Joel 2:23), denoting the former or the early rain. Melqosh, the "latter rain" (Proverbs 16:15). Geshem, the winter rain, "the rains." The heavy winter rain is mentioned in Genesis 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 (Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23; Compare 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.

RAIN, v.i. It seems that rain is contracted from regen. It is the Gr. to rain, to water, which we retain in brook, and the Latins, by dropping the prefix, in rigo, irrigo, to irrigate. The primary sense is to pour out, to drive forth. Heb.

1. To fall in drops from the clouds, as water; used mostly with it for a nominative; as, it rains; it will rain; it rained, or it has rained.

2. To fall or drop like rain; as, tears rained at their eyes.

RAIN, v.t. To pour or shower down from the upper regions, like rain from the clouds.

Then said the Lord to Moses, behold I will rain bread from heaven for you. Ex. 14.

God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. Job. 20.

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and horrible tempest. Ps. 11.

RAIN, n. The descent of water in drops from the clouds; or the water thus falling. Rain is distinguished from mist, by the size of the drops, which are distinctly visible. When water falls in very small drops or particles, we call it mist, and fog is composed of particles so fine as to be not only indistinguishable, but to float or be suspended in the air.

In the Bible "early rain" signifies the rain of the autumn, ( 11:14) and "latter rain" the rain of spring. (Proverbs 16:1,5) 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." (James 5:7; Proverbs 16:15)