Ask ye of the Lord rain. The promise of abundance at the end of the last chapter suggests to the prophet to make a special application to the practice of his countrymen. They must put their trust in God alone for the supply of temporal as well as spiritual bounties.
The latter rain was due at the time of the vernal equinox, and was necessary in order to swell the maturing grain (comp. Deuteronomy 11:14). The early rain occurred at the autumnal equinox. It was considered as a special manifestation of God's providential care that these periodical rains were received (see Isaiah 30:23; Jeremiah 5:24; Joel 2:23).
So the Lord shall make bright clouds; rather, Jehovah maketh the lightnings. Thunderstorms accompany the periodical rains. Ye must ask of him, and ye shall have. Septuagint, κύριος ἐποίησε φαντασίας," The Lord makes flashes" (of lightning?
); Vulgate, Domiaus faciet nives, where the right reading is supposed to be nubes (comp. Psalms 135:7; Job 38:25, Job 38:26). Give them showers of rain. Abundant rain, as Job 37:6. The address is now in the third person.
Grass. All vegetable food for man and beast, as in Genesis 1:11, Genesis 1:29; Psalms 104:14; Amos 7:2.