Bible Dictionary
Seasons
The Bible primarily mentions summer and winter as the seasons of Palestine. Winter brought rain and cold, while summer was hot and dry and included harvesting and threshing.
Definition
The biblical seasons chiefly named are summer and winter. Palestine’s seasons are less sharply separated than those of northern countries, with gradual transitions between them.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses summer and winter in descriptions of creation’s continuing order, weather, harvest, judgment, and travel. Jesus referred to winter in connection with flight from Jerusalem, and Paul asked Timothy to come before winter because travel and navigation were then difficult.
Historical Background
Winter was the rainy season, approximately November through May, and could be cold, especially in the hills. Summer was hot and rainless and included harvesting and threshing. The Bible does not specifically name spring or autumn as seasons.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Gen. 8:22). See AGRICULTURE; MONTH.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>se'-z'nz (summer: qayits, Chaldaic qayiT (Da 2:35); (theros; winter: cethaw) (So 2:11), (choreph; cheimon): The four seasons in Palestine are not so marked as in more northern countries, summer gradually fading into winter and winter into summer. The range of temperature is not great. In the Bible we have no reference to spring or autumn; the only seasons mentioned are "summer and winter" (Ge 8:22; Ps 74:17; Zec 14:8).</p><p>Winter is the season of rain lasting from November to May. "The winter is past; the rain is over" (So 2:11). See RAIN. The temperature at sealevel in Palestine reaches freezing-point occasionally, but seldom is less than 40ø F. On the hills and mountains it is colder, depending on the height. The people have no means of heating their houses, and suffer much with the cold. They wrap up their necks and heads and keep inside the houses out of the wind as much as possible. "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter" (Pr 20:4). Jesus in speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem says, "Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter" (Mt 24:20). Paul asks Timothy to "come before winter" (2Ti 4:21) as navigation closed then and travel was virtually impossible.</p><p>Summer is very hot and rainless. "(When) the fig tree .... putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh" (Mr 13:28); "The harvest is past, the summer is ended" (Jer 8:20). It is the season of harvesting and threshing (Da 2:35). "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son" (Pr 10:5).</p><p>See COLD; HEAT; ASTRONOMY, sec. I, 5.</p><p>Alfred H. Joy</p>