Jehovah God brought this calamity upon his people because they had rejected him in favor of the Canaanite rain - god, Baal.
(‏ يعقوب ٥ :‏ ١٧‏ )‏ وكان ذلك عقابا انزله يهوه الله بشعبه لأنهم تركوه وعبدوا اله المطر الكنعاني ،‏ بعل .‏