Discussion In Scripture, what is the former and latter rain.

[Always in His Presence]

Please post as many verses as commentary to support your position.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

The former rains are the spring rains, needed for the early barley crop; the latter being the summer rains needed for the later wheat crop.

 

[Monna]

Jeremiah 5:24
King James Version
Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Complete Jewish Bible
They don’t say to themselves, “Let’s fear Adonai our God, who gives the fall and spring rains in season, who reserves us the weeks assigned for harvest.”

Othodox Jewish Bible
Neither say they in their lev, Let us now fear Hashem Eloheinu, that giveth geshem, both the yoreh (former rain, autumn rain) and the malkosh (latter rain, spring rain) in season; He secureth unto us shavu’ot chukkot katzir (the appointed weeks of the harvest).

Hosea 6:3
King James Version
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

Complete Jewish Bible
Let us know, let us strive to know Adonai. That he will come is as certain as morning; he will come to us like the rain, like the spring rains that water the earth.

Othodox Jewish Bible
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know Hashem; His going forth is prepared as the shachar (dawn); and He shall come unto us as the geshem (winter rain), as the malkosh (spring rain, i.e., as the latter and former rain, which is the winter and spring rain) unto ha’aretz.

Joel 2:23
King James Version
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

Complete Jewish Bible
Be glad, people of Tziyon! rejoice in Adonai your God! For he is giving you the right amount of rain in the fall, he makes the rain come down for you, the fall and spring rains — this is what he does first.

Othodox Jewish Bible
Be glad then, ye bnei Tziyon, and rejoice in Hashem Eloheichem; for He hath given you the former rain according to (His) tzedakah, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the yoreh (former rain), and the malkosh (latter rain) as before.

In many parts of the world there are two peaks in the annual precipitation pattern. We know that precipitation patterns can vary significantly over time. It is quite likely that in OT times the Eastern Mediterranean had two rainfall peaks, and the farmers timed their sowing accordingly. Today, Israel does not display a disctinct two peak pattern. (Also the pattern is different in the north and the much drier south).

The verses seem to be reminding us of the faithfulness of God in giving us the basic necessities of life. This is promised, but conditionally, in Deuternomy 11: 13-17 (CJB)

So if you listen carefully to my mitzvot which I am giving you today, to love Adonai your God and serve him with all your heart and all your being; then, [says Adonai,] ‘I will give your land its rain at the right seasons, including the early fall rains and the late spring rains; so that you can gather in your wheat, new wine and olive oil; and I will give your fields grass for your livestock; with the result that you will eat and be satisfied.’ But be careful not to let yourselves be seduced, so that you turn aside, serving other gods and worshipping them. If you do, the anger of Adonai will blaze up against you. He will shut up the sky, so that there will be no rain. The ground will not yield its produce, and you will quickly pass away from the good land Adonai is giving you.​

This would seem to be the command that gave Elijah the confidence to tell King Ahab that there would be no rain until he said so. (1 Kings 17:1). In fact James (ch 5:17) tells us that Elijah actually prayed to God to cut off the rain, fulfilling His promise. He claimed the promise of God.

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.​

 

[Always in His Presence]

Great replies!