Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:
Only mentioned once as actually falling
(2 Sam. 23:20; 1 Chron. 11:22); but of frequent poetic and metaphoric use (Ex. 4:6; Num. 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27; Psa. 51:7; Isa. 1:18).
Concise Bible Dictionary:
Snow
This is taken in scripture as a symbol of “whiteness.” The sins as scarlet become as white as snow; the raiment of the Lord in the transfiguration was as white as snow (Psa. 51:7; Isa. 1:18; Lam. 4:7; Dan. 7:9; Matt. 28:3; Rev. 1:14).
Snow on Mt. Hermon
“408. Supposed Virtues of Snow Water” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Job 9:30. If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean.
Snow water was anciently supposed to possess peculiar virtues for cleansing the skin. It was thought that the skin was whitened by it, and that it contracted the fibers and prevented perspiration. “In the fable of Lockman, No. 13, the black man rubs his body with snow in order to make it white. Therefore Mohammed prays, Lord, wash me from my sins white with water, snow, and ice.’” (Umbreit, Version of the Book of Job).
“466. Snow Used in Summer” From Manners and Customs of the Bible:
Proverbs 25:18. As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
It is evident that this cannot refer to the coming of winter weather in summer, since the application of the figure supposes something desirable, which certainly could not be said of a fall of snow in harvest time. The custom, so common in the East today, of cooling wines with snow or ice, was doubtless practiced in the time of Solomon. Mount Lebanon supplies a large country in its neighborhood from the inexhaustible stores of snow upon its top. The snow is mixed with the wine, thus making the latter more palatable; so a faithful messenger is a source of refreshment to “the soul of his masters.”
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