Winter

Winter (prop. סתָן, sethan, Song of Solomon 2, 11; but usually חֹרֶŠ, chreph, which is strictly autumn, the season of ripeness; Gr. χειμών, the rainy season). In Palestine, part of autumn and the seasons of seed-time and cold, extending from the beginning of' September to the beginning of March, were called winter (en. 8. 22; Ps 74:17; Zec 14:8; Jer 36:22). The cold: of winter is not usually very severe, though then north winds from the middle of December to the middle of February are exceedingly penetrating. Snow falls more or less but seldom lies upon the ground, except in tile mountains (Psalm 174:17). In shady places the ice will occasionally bear a man's weight, but thaws as soon as the sun rises upon it. In the plain of Jericho the winter is more genial than the spring of northern countries, while in the mountainous country around Jerusalem it is often more inclement: than might be expected (Mt 24:20). In this season the most furious storms of hail are experienced all over the land; the brooks rise, and all their streams fill their channels, and thunder and lightning are frequent. Towards the end of January the fields become green, and there is every appearance of approaching spring. The last rains tall in the early part of April; it is still cold, but less so, and the spring may be said to have arrived (Song of Solomon 2, 11). SEE CALENDAR; SEE PALESTINE; SEE SEASON.