262 The Honey-Makers 



slain. It is not stated that the bees had their origin in 

 the dead body of the Hon, though if that is meant we 

 have here a trace of the superstition beheved by the 

 Greeks and by them referred to Egypt, that the bee 

 comes from the body of a slain bull. 



In Samson's case the finding of honey and subsequent 

 expounding of his riddle, " Out of the eater came forth 

 meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness." was 

 fraught with direful consequences, resulting as it did in the 

 slaying of thirty men. 



Palestine is frequently referred to as a land flowing with 

 milk and honey. In this way is expressed its extreme 

 fertihty and desirability as a place of abode, and it reminds 

 us of the Arabic figure of fertility, — a man with his mouth 

 to a honey-bottle. 



The " chosen people " were frequently fed upon honey, 

 and thus did the Lord provide for Jacob : — 



" He made him ride on the high places of the earth, 

 that he might eat the increase of the fields ; and he made 

 him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the 

 flinty rock." 



The food of John the Baptist while sojourning in the 

 wilderness was locusts and wild honey, quite an epicurean 

 diet could one but overcome an unreasonable occidental 

 prejudice against ''locusts." 



When Christ had risen from the dead he appeared to 

 his disciples and asked for food. 



"And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and 

 of an honey-comb. And he took it and did eat before 

 them." 



In the mystical language of the Revelation we read the 

 following : — 



"And I went unto the angel and said unto him, 'Give 

 me the little book.' And he said unto me, ' Take it and 



