HONEY. Bees are some of the smallest Ecclus. xi. 3.creatures that fly, says Ecclesiasticus, and the Produce of them is the sweetest thing in the world. The Scripture describing a troop of enemies pursuing with obstinacy and warmth, makes use of the similitude of Deut. i. 44.Bees: And chased them as Bees do. And in another place; Like Bees they closed me in Pf. cxvii. 12.on every side. God, in order to give us an idea of his Omnipotency, says, That he will Isai. vii. 18.hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the Bee, that is in the land of Assyria. By the Fly and the Bee here, are meant the Kings of Egypt and Assyria. See above BEELZEBUB and FLY, where we speak of the worship which the Philistins paid the Fly.
As to Honey, we see in Leviticus, that God did not permit any to be offered to him Levit. ii. 11.upon his Altar: Ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. There are many reasons given for the expediency of this Law: for example, that Honey does not agree well Levit. xi. 20. Herodot. l. 2. Vide Bochart. de Animal. Sacr. part. 1. l. 4. c. 11. Vide & Ezech. xvi. 18, 19. דבשDebasch. Μέλι, Mel.with other things, which are offered in the way of Sacrifice, that it makes bread sower, and is not good with roast meat; or because Bees are insects which are judged to be unclean; or because Honey is the symbol of carnal pleasures; or lastly, to keep at a distance from the customs of the Heathens, who were used to offer Honey in their Sacrifices.
But at the same time that God forbids any Honey to be offered to him in Sacrifice, he commands the first-fruits of it to be presented to him: Primitias tantum eorum offeretis & munera. These first-fruits and offerings were designed for the support and sustenance of the Priests, and were not offered upon the Altar. Moreover, by the word Honey, the Rabbins and Authors of Hebrew Dictionaries, understand not only the Honey of Bees, but likewise the Honey of Dates, or the Fruits of the Palm-tree, or the Dates themselves, from which Honey is extracted; and when God injoins the first-fruits of Honey to be offered to him, the first-fruits of Dates seem to be meant by this expression; for we know very well that generally the first produce only of fruits was offered.
Exod. iii. 8. xiii. 5. & passim. Deut. xxxii. 13. Vide & Psal. lxxx. 17.Every one knows, that Honey was formerly very common in Palestine. The expressions of Scripture, which import so frequently that this country was a land flowing with Milk and Honey, are a good proof of this. Moses says, that the Lord has brought his people into a Land, the rocks whereof drop Oil, and the stones produce Honey in abundance. Honey ran upon the ground in the forest, where Jonathan dip’d the end of his staff in this liquor, and conveyed 2 Sam. xiv. 25, 26, 27.it to his mouth. Travellers observe, that it is still at this day in great plenty there, and that the inhabitants of the country mix it in all their sauces. John the Baptist fed upon wild Honey, which was Math. iii. 4.to be found in rocks up and down the country, or in hollow trees. Children were fed with Milk, Cream, and Honey. Butter and Honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and chuse the good. This Isai. vii. 15.was the sweetest and most delicious thing which was then known before the invention and preparation of Sugar. God complains of Jerusalem for offering that Bread, Oil, and Honey to Idols, which he had given to the inhabitants thereof for their nourishment. Lastly, too great a quantity of Honey is hurtful to the stomach, and Prov. xxv. 16.creates a loathing. Hast thou found Honey, says the wise Man, eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.