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WIND.—The winds in Heb. are designated by the four cardinal points of the compass. ‘South wind,’ e.g., may be either S., S.W., or S.E.; and so with the others. Cool winds come from the N., moist winds from the western sea, warm winds from the S., and dry winds, often laden with fine sand, from the eastern deserts. Warmth and moisture, therefore, depend much upon the direction of the winds. During the dry season, from May till October, the prevailing winds are from the N. and N.W.; they do much to temper the heat of summer (Son_4:16, Job_37:9). In Sept. and Oct., E. and S.E. winds are frequent; blowing from the deserts, their dry heat causes the furniture to crack, and makes life a burden (Hos_13:15). Later, the winds from the S. prolong the warmth of summer (Luk_12:55); then the W. and S.W. winds bring the rain (1Ki_18:44, Luk_12:54). East winds earlier in the year often work great destruction on vegetation (Eze_17:10). Under their influence strong plants droop, and flowers quickly wither (Psa_103:19).
Of the greatest value for all living things is the perpetual interchange of land and sea breezes. At sunrise a gentle air stirs from the sea, crosses the plain, and creeps up the mountains. At sunset the cooling air begins to slip down seaward again, while the upper strata move landward from the sea. The moisture thus carried ashore is precipitated in refreshing dew.
The ‘tempestuous wind’ (Act_27:14), called Euroclydon or Euraquilo (wh. see), was the E.N.E. wind so prevalent in the eastern Mediterranean, called by sailors to-day ‘the Levanter.’
W. Ewing.