Why did Moshe need to raise his hands heavenwards, specifically here by Makas Barad?
Ramban: Refer to 9:29:1:2.
Oznayim la'Torah: It is a hint that Moshe stopped the hail from falling in mid-air. 1
Refer to 9:33:1.1:3.
What does the Torah mean when it writes, "u'Matar Lo Nitach Artzah"?
Rashi #1, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means that the rain 1 did not reach the ground. 2
Rashi #2 (citing Menachem ibn Saruk) and Rashbam: It did not pour on to the ground.
Rashi #3 (to Yechezkel 13:11): When the Pasuk there speaks about "Avnei Elgavish" (ibid.), it is referring to the hailstones that Moshe stopped in midair - "Avnei Elgavish" - 'Al Gav Ish' - through Moshe, who is called 'Ish.' 3
According to the Ta'amei ha'Mikra, the Targumim and Rashi, the Pasuk means that the hail stopped, and the rain did not reach the ground.
It stopped in mid-air. Rabeinu Bachye (citing Midrash Tanchuma) relates that they would later fall on the Kena'anim in the time of Yehoshua (as recorded in Yehoshua 10:11), whereas, according to the Gemara in Berachos (54b, it was Yechezkel who would later order them to fall [See Rashi to Yechezkel 13:11]). Hadar Zekenim - They will fall in the days of Gog and Magog.
See Bamidbar 12:3.
