It [a cloud] is called by five names: Av (Judges 5:4), ed (Genesis 2:6), anan (Genesis 9:13), nesiim (Jeremiah 10:13), ḥaziz (Zechariah 10:1). Av – because it darkens [me’abev] the face of the firmament. Ed – because it ruins the celebration [eid] of the price gougers.32Who profiteer during droughts. Anan – because it makes people tolerant [anavim] of one another.
Nesiim – because it makes people regard each other as aristocrats [nesiim].33People earn money from their crops. Ḥaziz – because it creates [colorful] spectacles [ḥezyonot] in the heavens, and because it causes the divine spirit to rest upon the people,34Rain indicates divine favor (see section 5). as it says: “The vision [ḥazon] of Isaiah son of Amotz” (Isaiah 1:1). Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: Earth is called by four names, corresponding to its four seasons: Eretz (Genesis 1:1), tevel (I Samuel 2:8), adama (Genesis 1:25), arka (Jeremiah 10:11).
Eretz – corresponding to the season of Nisan [spring], because it accelerates [meritza] production of its produce. Tevel – corresponding to the season of Tamuz [summer], because it brings flavor [metabelet] to its produce. Adama – corresponding to the season of Tishrei [autumn], as the ground becomes disparate clods of earth [adama]. Arka – corresponding to the season of Tevet [winter], because it causes its produce to wither [moreket].