Proverbs 25:13

“As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, etc.] As water as cold as snow; or as a breeze of air, such as in a time of snow; and so Jarchi, “as the cold of the days of snow, which a man desires in summer, and not snow simply, for snow itself is not good in the time of harvest;” (see <202401>Proverbs 24:1). Or rather “as a shield” or “covering of snow”f682, as the word signifies: perhaps, as Gussetiusf683 thanks, a vessel in such a form, in which snow was kept in summer, is meant; and the same word, the two first radical letters being doubled, is used for the pot, or urn, in which the manna was kept, (<021633>Exodus 16:33). As snow, that in those hot countries used to be kept in vessels, in…”

“Snow from mountains was used to cool drinks; so refreshing is a faithful messenger (Pro 13:17).”

“A picture of the growing luxury of the Solomonic period. The “snow in harvest” is not a shower of snow or hail, which would be terrifying and harmful rather than refreshing (compare 1 Samuel 12:17-18); but, rather, the snow of Lebanon or Hermon put into wine or other drink to make it more refreshing in the scorching heat of May or June at the king’s summer palace on Lebanon (1 Kings 9:19, note; Song of Solomon 7:4, note). More reviving even than the iced wine cup was the faithful messenger. Contrast Proverbs 10:26. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Cold of snow - As drink cooled with ice or snow, as is usual in hot countries. Proverbs 25:14”

“25:13 Snow would be a welcome relief in Israel’s hot, dry summers (cp. 26:1); trustworthy messengers refresh their employer by enabling him or her to plan for the future.”

“Pro 25:25, Pro 13:17, Pro 26:6; Phi 2:25-30 Proverbs 25:14”

“The following comparative tristich refers to faithful service rendered by words: Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day Is a faithful messenger to them that send him: He refresheth the soul of his master. The coolness (צנּה from צנן, צנן, to be cool) of snow is not that of a fall of snow, which in the time of harvest would be a calamity, but of drink cooled with snow, which was brought from Lebanon or elsewhere, from the clefts of the rocks; the peasants of Damascus store up the winter's snow in a cleft of the mountains, and convey it in the warm months to Damascus and the coast towns. Such a refreshment is a faithful messenger (vid., regarding ציר, Pro 13:17, here following קציר as a…”