26o The Honey-Makers 



And again, — 



" The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous 

 altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, 

 than much fine gold : sweeter also than honey and the 

 honey-comb." 



In Proverbs we are told, " Pleasant words are as honey- 

 comb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." 



Jacob, sending his sons to Egypt to buy food, enjoins them 

 to gain the favor of the governor by taking him a present : 



" Take of the best fruits of the land in your vessels, and 

 carry down the man a present, a little balm and a little 

 honey, spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds." 



Thus is clearly shown that honey was considered one of 

 the choice gifts of the land, as again, in the Book of the 

 Kings, where Jeroboam sends his wife to the prophet he 

 bids her : — 



"And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a 

 cruse of honey, and go to him." 



Honey too was one of the gifts brought to David's army 

 as he was encamped in the wilderness. 



The manna gathered by the Children of Israel in the 

 wilderness was delicious to the hungry people, " and the 

 taste of it was like wafers made with honey." 



The Children of Israel brought as an offering to the 

 temples of the Lord, " in abundance, the first-fruits of corn, 

 wine and oil, and honey." 



Honey, however, could not be used in sacrifices for it is 

 commanded : — 



" Ye shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering 

 of the Lord made by fire." 



It has been by some explained that honey was prohib- 

 ited as a burnt-offering because it, like leaven, caused 

 fermentation to take place when mixed with flour ; and 

 again, the heathen used honey in their sacrifices, a valid 



