112 UERTHA'S VISIT TO HER 



ride on the high places of the earth ;" and after- 

 wards by " sucking honey and oil out of the 

 flinty rock?" He answered, " The former phrase 

 applies to the victories which the Israelites had 

 already achieved through the divine assistance, 

 as well as to the final conquest of the land of 

 Canaan by the same means. The honey and 

 oil are allusions to the fruitfulness of the 

 country, which abounds with wild bees, who 

 build their honeycombs in the rocks ; and with 

 the finest olive trees, which it is well known strike 

 their roots into the rocky crevices. 



" The third part of the song/' he continued, 

 " begins with the fifteenth verse, and describes 

 the usual effect of prosperity upon a thoughtless 

 and ungrateful people. ' But Jeshurun waxed 

 fat and kicked.' This figure of speech is pro- 

 bably taken from a pampered horse, who becomes 

 unmanageable and vicious ; and you will find it 

 repeated in Hosea*. ' According to their 

 pasture they were filled, and their heart was 

 exalted; therefore they have forgotten me.' 

 Jeshurun is derived from a word signifying up- 

 right, and is put here, as well as in Isaiah, for 

 Israel. It would not be very difficult to apply 

 the whole of this passage to more modern 

 nations, who have far less excuse than even the 

 Israelites for * forsaking God, and lightly 

 esteeming the rock of their salvation ;' but, as 

 * Chap, xiii. ver. 6. 



