Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Rain, both the former and the latter, in his season - the "former" falls from the middle of October to the beginning of December. The "latter," or spring rain in Palestine, falls before harvest in March and April, and is essential for ripening the crops (Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23.)
The appointed weeks of the harvest - the seven weeks between Passover and Pentecost beginning on the 16th of Nisan (Deuteronomy 16:7). By God's special providence no rain fell in Palestine during the harvest weeks, so that harvest work went on without interruption (see the note on "reserveth unto us the appointed ... harvest;" Genesis 8:22, "While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest ... shall not cease").