THE EARLY RAIN
AND THE LATTER RAIN (YOREH AND MALKOSH) (Deut. 11:13-14)
13 And it shall come to
pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this
day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with
all your soul,
14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain
and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine
oil. (Deut. 11:13-14)
the early rain: Heb. יוֹרֶה.
"This is the rain that falls after [the] sowing [season], which thoroughly
sates (מְרַוֶּה) the soil and
the seeds.
the latter rain: Heb.
מַלְקוֹשׁ. The rain that
falls just before the harvest time, to fill the grain on its stalks."
(Rashi http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/9975/showrashi/true)
What do these words "yoreh" (the early rain) and
"malkosh" (the latter rain) mean? Rabbi Adin Steinsatz
wrote in his commentary to tract "Taanith" (5b-6a) that a word
"yoreh" has a connection with a word "moreh" (teaches or
teacher). Too it has a connection with a word "raveh" (watering) (Techilim
65:11) (Psalms 65:10):
"Thou waterest (raveh) the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the
furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing
thereof." (Psalms 65:10)
"In other words, - rabbi Adin Steinsaltz said, - yoreh (means) "it
drizzles calmly" (so calm and gentleness with which a teacher instructs
his students), and not brought down fiercely." (From Russian translation)
About malkosh (the latter rain). ""R' Nehilai ben Idi said in
the name of Shmuel: ['Latter rain' is termed] 'malkosh' because it is a thing
that removes the stiff-neckedness of Israel." Here the sages see the word
malkosh as being a combination of two words - "mal," to remove, and
"kosh," stiffness, stiff-neckedness.
Rashi explains that when the malkosh does not fall, the Jewish people repent,
fast, and give charity. Similarly, "When Israel sins and does evil, the
rain stops. Then they call upon a sage and he inspires them, softening their
hearts to repent" (Jerusalem Talmud 1:1)
The students of Rabbi Yishmael offer a different explanation. According to
them, the malkosh is "something that fills the stalks with grain."
Here, too, "malkosh" is seen as a compound of two words -
"maleh," to fill, and "kash," stalk." (Rabbi Uzi Kalchaim
zt"l. The "Malkosh" - Last Rains http://www.yeshiva.org.il/midrash/Shiur.asp?id=6909)
"... R. Jehudah
said that the rain is the husband of the earth, as it is written [Isaiah, Iv.
10]: 'For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not
thither, but water the earth, and render it fruitful, and cause it to bring
forth plants.' " (Taanith 6b http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t04/taa06.htm)
"The relationship between God and humanity is expressed as a male-female relationship, a giver and a receiver: “From when do we pronounce the blessing on rain? From when the groom (the rain) goes out to meet the bride (earth)” (Ta’anith 6b)." (Y. Pinhas. Living waters http://ressources.ciheam.org/om/pdf/a65/05002206.pdf)
There was this blessing: "We thank you Lord our God for every drop of which Thou have sent down to us." (Translation from Russian)
"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." (Jer. 5:24)
"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." (Joel 2:23)
"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." (Hos. 6:3)
Messianic meaning
The
outpouring of Ruach ha-Kodesh (the Holy Spirit) was like the rain.
1 And when the day of
Shavuot (Pentecost) was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and
it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon
each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my
Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: (Acts
2:16-17)
"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of
the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now
see and hear." (Acts 2:33)
Hashem gives Ruach ha-Kodesh (the Holy
Spirit) now too as well as He will give Ruach ha-Kodesh to all Israel in
future.
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." (Rom. 5:5)
"Which he shed on us abundantly through Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ) our Saviour;" (Tit. 3:6)
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." (Zech. 12:10)
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