Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 26:4
Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
Verse 4. Rain in due season] What in Scripture is called the early and the latter rain. The first fell in Palestine at the commencement of spring, and the latter in autumn. – Calmet.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I will give you rain; therefore God placed them not in a land where there were such rivers as Nilus to water it and make it fruitful, but in a land which depended wholly upon the rain of heaven, the key whereof God kept in his own hand, that so he might the more effectually oblige them to obedience, in which their happiness consisted.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. I will give you rain in dueseason, and the land shall yield her increaseRain seldom fellin Judea except at two seasonsthe former rain at the end ofautumn, the seedtime; and the latter rain in spring, before thebeginning of harvest (Jer 5:24).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then I will give you rain in due season,…. The former and latter rain, in the two seasons of the year in which rain usually fell, and the Scriptures frequently speak of; and when the land of Israel, which required rain, not being watered with a river, as Egypt, was blessed with it; the one was at the sowing of their seed, or a little after it, and the other a little before harvest; and when it was had in those times it was had in due season, and hence the word is in the plural number, “your rains” i; unless showers of rain are meant: to encourage to keep the commands of God, promises of many outward good things are made; and this is the first, being a principal blessing, and which only God, and not all the vanities of the Gentiles, could give:
and the land shall yield her increase; which is greatly owing to seasonable showers of rain, by which means the earth brings forth bread to the eater and seed to the sower, corn and grass for man and beast:
and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit; vines, olives, pomegranates, figs, &c. are meant, with which the land of Israel abounded, De 8:8.
i “pluvias vestras”, Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. Then I will give you rain in due season. He might in one word have promised great abundance of food, but, that His grace may be more illustrious, the instruments are mentioned which He employs for its supply. He might give us bread as He formerly rained down manna from heaven; but in order that the signs of His paternal solicitude may be constantly before us, after the seed is sown, the earth requires rain from heaven; and thus the order of the seasons is so regulated that every day may renew the memory of God’s bounty. For this reason rain is mentioned, and the increase of the fruits of the earth; and the continued succession of thrashing, the vintage, and sowing-time, indicates a very abundant supply of corn and wine. For, if the harvest be small, there will not be much work to occupy the husbandman; and, if the vintage be light, hence also will arise an unsatisfactory period of leisure. But when God declares that from harvest to sowing-time they shall have constant employment, He bids them expect a fruitful year, as immediately follows, “ye shall eat your bread to the full.” And since no prosperity can be gratifying without peace, He says that they shall be quiet and free from all disturbance. And this must be carefully observed that, so unpalatable are all God’s blessings without the seasoning of tranquillity, nothing is more wretched than inquietude. The sum is, that for the true servants of God not only is there food laid up with Him, but also its peaceful and pleasant enjoyment, since it is in His power and will to drive far from them all annoyances. Still these two things do not seem altogether consistent with each other, that there shall be none to make them afraid, and that they shall subdue their enemies, so that (210) ten shall suffice to chase a hundred; for of what use would their military strength be if there were no enemies to trouble them? But if we may take the latter sentence disjunctively, there will be no absurdity, viz., if it should happen that war be brought against them, they should fight successfully. Still the easiest solution of this difficulty is, that it soon afterwards was necessary for them to contend with a great multitude of enemies, in order to obtain possession of the land. We gather from the accommodation by the Prophets of this peculiar blessing of a secure and tranquil life to the kingdom of Christ, that the promises, which from the nature of the Law were of none effect, are still useful for believers; for, when God has reconciled them to Himself, He also liberally bestows upon them what they have not deserved; and yet their obedience, such as it is, is also rewarded.
(210) The oversight of ten for five here is scarcely worth noticing.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Then I will give you rain in due season.Better, then I will give you your rains in due season, that is, the former and latter rains (Deu. 11:14). In Palestine the proper season for the early rain is from about the middle of October until December, thus preparing the ground for receiving the seed, whilst that of the latter or vernal rain is in the months of March and April, just before the harvest. Thus, also, in the covenant which God is to make with His people, a similar promise is made, I will cause the showers to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing (Eze. 34:26).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Rain in due season When the moral character of men influences the course of nature, the personality of God and his interest in human affairs are indubitably demonstrated. See Lev 26:19, note. A God who sways his scepter over the physical world in the interest of his moral government is especially offensive to the depraved heart.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 26:4. Then will I give you rain in due season It is manifest to every reader that the blessings and curses denounced here, and in the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy, as sanctions of the law, are merely temporal, and refer entirely to the things of this world in their primary sense. As they are more fully expressed in the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy, we refer our readers to the commentary on that chapter.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Lev 26:4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
Ver. 4. Rain in due season. ] The best almanac we should rely upon for seasonable weather is our obedience to God, love to our neighbour, care of ourselves.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Then. See note on “If”, Lev 26:3 above.
rain. Hebrew rains: i.e. the early and latter rains. Deu 11:14; Deu 28:12. Jer 14:22. Deu 32:2. Psa 72:6.
increase = produce, sustenance. Heb yebul. See notes on Lev 25:7; Lev 25:36.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Then I: Deu 28:12, 1Ki 17:1, Job 5:10, Job 37:11-13, Job 38:25-28, Psa 65:9-13, Psa 68:9, Psa 104:13, Isa 5:6, Isa 30:23, Jer 14:22, Eze 34:26, Eze 34:27, Joe 2:23, Joe 2:24, Amo 4:7, Amo 4:8, Mat 5:45, Act 14:17, Jam 5:7, Jam 5:17, Jam 5:18, Rev 11:6
the land: Lev 25:21, Psa 67:6, Psa 85:12, Eze 34:27, Eze 36:30, Hag 2:18, Hag 2:19, Zec 8:12
Reciprocal: Lev 19:25 – General Lev 26:20 – for your land Deu 7:15 – will put none Deu 11:14 – General Deu 28:8 – storehouses Deu 30:9 – make thee Deu 33:14 – the precious 1Ki 18:1 – I will send rain 2Ch 31:10 – the Lord Psa 132:15 – bless her provision Joe 2:22 – for the tree Gal 6:9 – for
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
26:4 Then I will give you {a} rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
(a) By promising abundance of earthly things, he stirs the mind to consider the rich treasures of the spiritual blessings.