Brook
Brook (very generally נִחִל, nachal'; Sept. and N.T. χείμῤῥος), rather a torrent.- It is applied,
1. to small streams arising from a subterraneous spring and flowing through a deep valley, such as the Arnon, Jabbok, Kidron, Sorek, etc., and also the brook of the willows, mentioned in Isa 15:7;
2. to winter-torrents arising from rains, and which are soon dried up in the warm season (Job 6:15,19). Such is the noted river (brook) of Egypt so often mentioned as at the southernmost border of Palestine (Nu 34:5; Jos 15:4,47); and, in fact, such are most of the brooks and streams of Palestine, which are numerous in winter and early spring, but of which very few survive the beginning of the summer.
3. As this (Heb.) word is applied both to the valley in which a brook runs and to the stream itself, it is sometimes doubtful which is meant (see Gesenius, Thes. p. 873). SEE STREAM.
To deal " deceitfully as a brook," and to pass away "as the stream of brooks" (Job 6:15), is to deceive our friend when he most needs our help and comfort; because brooks, being temporary streams, are dried up in the heats of summer, and thus the hopes of the traveller are disappointed (see Hackett's Illustra. of Scripture, p. 16). SEE RIVER.
