- RAHAM merciful, one of the descendants of Caleb, the son of Hezron (1
Chronicles 2:44). - 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” (Proverbs 16:15). (3.)
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; 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; 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 Deuteronomy 32:2; Psalm 72:6; Isaiah
44:3, 4; Hos. 10:12.