RAIMENT, CHANGES OF. Costly garments of various substances and colors. inwrought and embroidered with gold threads (Ezek. xvi :10, 13; Eccles. ix :8) were frequently made by Hebrew women (Prov. xxxi :22), and also imported (Zeph.
i :8). Men of high station had always a large supply of these for their own use (Prov. xxxi :2i ; Job xxvii :i6; Luke xv :22) and to give away as presents (Gen. xlv :22; 1 Sam. xviii :4; 2 Kings v :5 ; x :22 ; Esth. iv :4; vi :8, ).
RAIN (ran), (Heb. maw-ta?), generically rain: 1. (Heb. gheh'shem), occasional showers.
2. (Heb. raw-beeb'), an accumulation of drops (Dem. xxxii:2; Jer. iii:3; xiv:22; Mic. v:7, etc.).
3. (Heb. zeh'rein, violent rainstorm, or pest), sometimes accompanied with hail (Job xxiv: 8).
In the spring there is frequently rain in Pales tine for several days, with thunder and lightning and a strong wind. In the summer season, from May to October, the earth is parched, verdure is destroyed, and vegetation languishes. The first rain after the summer drought usually falls in October, and is called the former or autumnal rain, because it precedes seed-time and prepares the earth for cultivation. The latter rain falls in April, just before harvest, and perfects the fruits of the earth (Deut. xi :lit ; Hos. vi :3; Joel ii Storms after this time were regarded by the Jews as unseasonable, and even miraculous (Prov.
xxvi :1 ; I Sam. xii :16-19). The average present rainfall at Jerusalem is 6i.6 inches, which is greater than that of almost any part of the United States (Schaff, Bib. Diet.). (See PALESTINE.) Figurative. (I) Whatever is refreshing, nour ishing, delightful, and tending to make persons useful in good works, such as ethical instructions, outward blessings, and the word, ordinances, and influences of Jesus Christ and his Spirit, are. likened to rain and blessed showers (Deut. xxxii : 2; IS. :6 ; Ps. lxviii :9; Ezek. xxxiv :26). Rain coming on mown grass, and on the earth, may import that it comes on persons afflicted and sin ful (Ps. lxxii :6). (2) The remnant of Jacob is likened to showers; the Jewish apostles and be lievers, and saints and ministers of every nation are useful to promote the spiritual growth and fruitfulness of the places they live in (Mic. v :7). (3) Destructive judgments are likened to an overflowing shower, to mark how sudden, wast ing, and ruinous they are to a country (Ezek. xiii :II). (4) The word of God (Is. lv :to) is compared to rain and snow, return as vapor to the sky, but not without having first of all accom plished the purpose of their descent, so the word of God shall not return to Him without fulfilling its purpose.