Hail
Hail
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The invariable biblical conception of hail is correctly represented in Wis 5:22 : As from an engine of war shall be hurled hailstones full of wrath. Typical instances of the use of hail as a weapon of Divine judgment and warfare are found in Exo 9:18 f., Jos 10:11. Like other destructive natural forces, it is a familiar category in apocalyptic prophecy. It is always regarded as a plague (, Rev 16:21). Hail and fire, lightnings and great hail, occur together (Rev 8:7, Rev 11:19), as in Exo 9:24 : hail, and fire mingling with (flashing continually amidst) the hail. Thunderstorms often arise under the conditions that are favourable to the formation of hail, i.e. great heat, a still atmosphere, the production of strong local convection currents in consequence, and the passage of a cold upper drift (Encyclopaedia Britannica 11 xii. 820), True hail, which is to be distinguished from so-called soft hail, is formed of clear or granular ice. Impinging hailstones are often frozen together, and sometimes great ragged masses of ice fall with disastrous results to life and property. The seventh angel having poured his bowl upon the air, great hail, every stone about a talent in weight, cometh down out of heaven upon men (Rev 16:21). Diodorus Siculus (xix. 45) writes of storms in which the size of the hail was incredible, for the stones fell a mina in weight, sometimes even more, so that many houses fell under their weight and not a few men were killed. The mina was about 2 lbs.-the sixtieth part of a talent.
James Strahan.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Hail
SEE BEN-HAIL.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Hail (2)
(, barard’, ), or congealed rain, is the symbol of the divine vengeance upon kingdoms and nations, the enemies of God and of his people. As a hailstorm is generally accompanied by lightning, and seems to be produced by a certain electrical state of the atmosphere, so we find in Scripture hail and fire, i.e. lightning, mentioned together (Exo 9:23; compare Job 38:22-23; Psa 105:32; Psa 78:48; Psa 148:8; Psa 18:13). SEE PLAGUES OF EGYPT. That hail, though uncommon, is not absolutely unknown in Egypt, we have the testimony of Mansleben and Manconys, who had heard it thunder during their stay at Alexandria, the former on the 1st of January, and the latter on the 17th and 18th of the same month; on the same day it also hailed there. Perry also remarks that it hails, though seldom, in January and February at Cairo. Pococke even saw hail mingled with rain fall at Fium in February (compare Exo 9:34). Korte also saw hail fall. Jomard says, I have several times seen even hail at Alexandria. Volney mentions a hail-storm which he saw crossing over Mount Sinai into that country, some of whose frozen stones he gathered; and so, he says, I drank iced water in Egypt. Hail was also the means made use of by God for defeating an army of the kings of Canaan (Jos 10:11).
In this passage it is said, The Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them i.e. hailstones of an extraordinary size, and capable of doing dreadful execution in their fall from heaven. Some commentators are of opinion that the miracle consisted of real stones, from the circumstance that stones only are mentioned in the preceding clause; but this is evidently erroneous, for there are many instances on record of hail-stones of enormous size and weight falling in different countries, so as to do immense injury, and to destroy the lives of animals and men. In Palestine and the neighboring regions, hailstones are frequent and severe in the mountainous districts and along the coasts; but in the plains and deserts hail scarcely ever falls. In the elevated region of Northern Persia the hailstones are frequently so violent as to destroy the cattle in the fields; and in Comm. Porter’s Letters from Constantinople and its Environs (1, 44) there is an interesting account of a terrific hailstorm that occurred on the Bosphorus in the summer of 1831, which fully bears out the above and other Scripture representations. Many of the lumps picked up after the storm weighed three quarters of a pound. In Isa 28:2, which, denounces the approaching destruction by Shalmaneser, the same images are employed. Hail is mentioned as a divine judgment by the prophet Haggai (Hag 2:17). The destruction of the Assyrian army is pointed out in Isa 30:30. Eze 13:11 represents the wall daubed with untempered mortar as being destroyed by great hailstones. Also in his prophecy against Gog (Eze 38:22) he employs the same symbol (compare Rev 20:9). The hail and fire mingled with blood, mentioned in Rev 8:7, are supposed to denote the commotions of nations. The great hail, in Rev 11:19, denotes great and heavy judgments on the enemies of true religion; and the grievous storm, in 16:21, represents something similar, and far more severe. So Horace (Odes, 1. 2); comp. Virgil (En. 4:120, 161; 9:669) and Livy (2, 62, and 26, 11).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Hail
frozen rain-drops; one of the plagues of Egypt (Ex. 9:23). It is mentioned by Haggai as a divine judgment (Hag. 2:17). A hail-storm destroyed the army of the Amorites when they fought against Joshua (Josh. 10:11). Ezekiel represents the wall daubed with untempered mortar as destroyed by great hail-stones (Ezek. 13:11). (See also 38:22; Rev. 8:7; 11:19; 16:21.)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Hail
HAIL.See Plagues of Egypt.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Hail (1)
hal (, baradh; , chalaza):
1. Its Occurrence
Hail usually falls in the spring or summer during severe thunder storms. Hailstones are made up of alternate layers of ice and snow, and sometimes reach considerable size, causing great damage by their fall. Upward currents of air carry up raindrops already formed to the colder regions above, where they freeze, and as they again pass through layers of cloud, their bulk increases until, too heavy to be carried by the current, they fall to the ground. Hailstorms, like thunder storms, occur in narrow belts a few miles in breadth and are of short duration. Almost without exception they occur in the daytime. If they take place before the time of harvest they do great damage to grain and fruit, and in extreme cases have injured property and endangered life.
2. In Syria
Hailstorms, while by no means common in Syria and Palestine, are not unusual and are of great severity. They occasionally take place in Egypt. Within a few years hailstones of unusual size fell in Port Said, breaking thousands of windows.
3. Biblical Instances
(1) The plague of hail (Exo 9:23-24; Psa 78:47), which was a local storm, as they usually are, falling on the Egyptians and not striking the children of Israel in Goshen. It was of great severity. There was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation (Exo 9:24). It took place in January, for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom (Exo 9:31), and caused great damage. (2) After the battle with the Amorites at Gibeon, Yahweh cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more who died with the hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword (Jos 10:11).
4. As Punishment
Hail is often spoken of as a means of punishing the wicked: As a tempest of hail … will he cast down (Isa 28:2); The hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies (Isa 28:17); and as symbols of God’s anger: I will rain … great hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Eze 38:22); There shall be … great hailstones in wrath to consume it (Eze 13:13; compare Isa 30:30; Hag 2:17; Rev 8:7; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:21).
5. God’s Power
Yahweh’s power and wisdom are shown in controlling the hail: Hast thou seen the treasuries of the hail? (Job 38:22); Fire and hail, snow and vapor … fulfilling his word (Psa 148:8).
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Hail (2)
hal: Interjection, found only in the Gospels as the translation of , chare, , charete, imp. of , charo, to rejoice, is used as a greeting or salutation. The word Hail is Old English and was formerly an adjective, used with the verb to be, meaning well, sound, hale, e.g. Hale be thou. Wycliff has heil without the verb, followed by other English VSS, except that the Geneva has God save thee, in Mat 26:49; Mat 28:9. The word occurs in Mat 26:49; Mat 27:29; Mat 28:9, all hail; Mar 15:18; Luk 1:28; Joh 19:3. See GODSPEED; GREETING.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Hail
Particles of ice falling from the clouds. Though hail is usually formed by natural causes not yet perhaps well understood, it is often referred to in scripture as one of the judgements of God. It formed one of the plagues in Egypt. Exo 9:18-34; Psa 78:47-48; Psa 105:32; and is at times connected with fire or lightning. God smote the Amalekites by ‘great stones’ from heaven. Jos 10:11. The hail is called upon to praise Jehovah, because it fulfils His word. Psa 148:8; Isa 28:2; Isa 28:17; Hag 2:17. It will also form a notable part of the judgements of God in His future dealings with this guilty world. Rev 8:7; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:21.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Hail
General references
Job 38:22; Hag 2:17
Plague of, in Egypt
Exo 9:18-29; Psa 78:48; Psa 105:32
Destroys army of the Amorites
Jos 10:11
Figurative
Isa 28:2; Rev 8:7; Rev 11:19; Rev 16:21
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
HAIL
A storm of hail signifies the incursion and assault of an enemy: and especially if they come from the north; the congealedness of this meteor bearing upon it the character of that quarter. Examples of this prophetic symbol we have in Isa 28:2 : “Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, which, as a tempest of hail, and a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand. Isa 30:30, “And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hail-stones.”
Achmetes (c. 191) says, if one dream that hail falls on a place, he may expect a thorough and sudden incursion of the enemy. But if he dream that the hail hurt the stems or stalks of the wheat, and barley, according as they are broken, in the same proportion will the slaughter of men be in that place by war.
Hail, by all the Oneirocritics, c. cxix., is interpreted, of inroads of enemies killing and destroying. It is used to the very same purpose in the Prophets:f1 and by Pindar,f2 and Demosthenes,f3 who compares the progress of king Philip to a storm of hail.
A storm of thunder, lightning, hail, and overflowing rain, says Sir Isaac Newton, is put for a tempest of war, descending from the heavens, and clouds politic. Rev 16:18; Rev 16:21.
F1 Isa 32:19; Eze 13:11; Eze 13:13.
F2 Pindar. Isthm. Od. vii.
F3 Demosth. Orat. de Cherrones.
Fuente: A Symbolical Dictionary
Hail
Job 38:22 (c) This scourge represents the wisdom and the power of GOD in judging His enemies and punishing those who refuse His Presence, and His Word.
Isa 28:2 (a) By this type we are taught that the judgment of GOD which man cannot hinder nor prevent will whip His enemies, and spoil their labor. GOD is a righteous GOD and will judge His foes with dire punishment.
Isa 32:19 (a) The Lord is informing us by this type that when He judges and punishes His enemies, His own people will be safe and secure. This condition existed in Egypt when the hail destroyed the crops of the Egyptians, but did not spoil the crops of the Israelites.
Rev 8:7 (a) Here is described another of GOD’s judgments on men, and it probably is a literal judgment, with literal ice falling with tremendous force to destroy the works of men. (See also Rev 11:19; Rev 16:21.