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brook (× ×—×œ, nahÌ£al, ×פיק, 'aÌ„phı̄kÌ£, ×™×ור, ye'oÌ„r, מיכל, mı̄khaÌ„l; χειÌμαÏÏ̔ηος, cheıÌmarrhos): In Palestine there are few large streams. Of the smaller ones many flow only during the winter, or after a heavy rain. The commonest Hebrew word for brook is nahÌ£al, which is also used for river and for valley, and it is not always clear whether the valley or the stream in the valley is meant (; ; ). The Arabic waÌ„dy, which is sometimes referred to in this connection, is not an exact parallel, for while it may be used of a dry valley or of a valley containing a stream, it means the valley and not the stream. 'AÌ„phı̄kÌ£ and ye'oÌ„r are translated both “brook†and “river,†ר, ye'or being generally used of the Nile (, etc.), though in -7, of the Tigris. Cheimarrhos, “winter-flowing,†is applied in to the Kidron. Many of the streams of Palestine which are commonly called rivers would in other countries be called brooks, but in such a dry country any perennial stream assumes a peculiar importance.