Rare in the clear air of Israel in harvest time or summer, which shows how its coming at Samuel's call unto Jehovah was by divine agency (1 Samuel 12:17-18). God so blessed the Holy Land that the ingathering of fruits and the threshing in the open air were unimpeded by rain. Its coming then would be as unseasonable and calamitous as "honour" conferred on a "fool" (Proverbs 26:1). Symbolizing divine wrath and judgment (Exodus 19:16; Psalm 29:3-9; 1 Samuel 2:10). Thunderings are figuratively spoken of as "voices of God" (Exodus 9:28 margin, compare John 12:29-30). Job 26:14, translated "and how faint is the word whisper that we hear of Him! but the thunder (i.e. the majestic fullness) of His power (in antithesis to 'the whisper') who can understand?" (1 Corinthians 13:9-12.) Job 39:19, "hast thou clothed his (the horse's) neck with thunder?" i.e. majesty (Umbreit): or his arched neck inspiring fear as the thunder does; but Maurer, "with his trembling, quivering mane."