Bible Encyclopedias
Hail

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

Frozen rain falling in pellets of various sizes and shapes. The Hebrew words for "hail" are: , the most usual term: (Ezekiel 13:11,13; 38:22); and (Psalms 78:47), the meaning of which is only conjectural. Hailstones were regarded as proofs of God's might (Ecclus. [Sirach] 43:15); they are spoken of as being kept in God'sstorehouses or treasuries (Job 38:22). The best known hail-storm in the Bible is the seventh plague which God inflicted on the Egyptians immediately before the Exodus (Exodus 9:13-35; Ps. c.). On another occasion hail served as God's destroying agent; and it is said that those who died from hailstones were more than those who died by the sword of Israel (Joshua 10:11). For this reason hail is often mentioned as a punishment (Isaiah 28:17; Ezekiel 13:11,13). Once hail occurs in a description of the appearance of God (Psalms 18:13). Hail is very often coupled with fire (Exodus 9:23,24; Psalms 18:13 [A. V. 12]), and it is also mentioned in connection with thunder (Exodus 9:23,28; Psalms 18:14).