People often do not think of snow when they think of Israel. But, there is snow every year is parts of Israel. On the northern boundary of Israel sits beautiful Mount Hermon, which is over 9000 feet in elevation. Mount Hermon receives a good bit of snow every year, and even has a few ski slopes on it. Even the city of Jerusalem gets occasional snow. The city sits in the central mountain range and is just under 3000 feet in elevation. (Trivial time: How many US States have a highest point of less than 3000 feet? The answer will be at the end of the post.) The Jerusalem Post reported this morning that the area of Galilee and northern Israel received some thunderstorms and snow in the higher elevations. Consequently, the Sea of Galilee recorded their first rise in water level since April.
When I read stories like this, I am reminded of a few verses in the Bible. Scriptures refers to the rains that come in the autumn as "early rain". (The "latter rain" falls in the spring.)
“And if you will indeed obey my commandments that I command you today, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, he will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain and your wine and your oil. - Deuteronomy 11:13-14
Also, as I said, Jerusalem is around 3000 feet in elevation. It does turn much cooler during the winter.
At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. - John 10:22:23
Oh...and the answer to the trivia question? It is 17. There are 17 states that have a highest point that is less than the elevation of Jerusalem. And nearly all of those states record snowfall every year.
(NOTE: The picture at the top of this post was posted last year by the Israel Museum on their Facebook page during their heavy snow fall.)
HT: Todd Bolen