Archaeology and the Bible: Beehives

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I have written several posts about this subject, but I just came across another interesting find and thought it would be worth sharing. At Exodus 3:8 says: “And I am proceeding to go down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and spacious, to a land flowing with MILK AND HONEY.” When the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, they raised sheep, goats and cows, which produced an abundant amount of milk. But, what about the honey? Some persons believe that this “honey” was a sweet syrup made from dates, figs or grapes, because most of the Bible references to honey of bees is to wild honey, not to a cultivated crop. However, recently, Archaeologists found more than 30 beehives, in three rows, and that the total area would have contained some 100 beehives, which scholars estimate, produced as much as half a ton of honey annually. The Hebrew University press release stated: “This is the earliest apiary (beehive colony) to be revealed to date in an archaeological excavation anywhere in the Ancient Near East, said Professor. (Amihai) Mazar. It dates from the 10th century to early 9th century B.C.E.” Beeswax was ALSO used in metal and leather industries, and for writing boards. The press release continued to say: “ While the Bible tells us nothing about beekeeping in Israel at that time, the discovery of the apiary at Tel Rehov indicates that beekeeping and the extraction of bees’ honey and honeycomb was a highly developed industry as early as the First (Solomon’s) Temple period. Thus, it is possible that the term “honey” in the Bible indeed, pertains to bees’ honey.” I found this very interesting information. I hope you did too. Bible critics have NEVER been able to prove the Bible to be wrong, by means of archaeological discoveries. Instead, archaeologists continue to confirm MANY Bible accounts as true and accurate. So, even though CRITICS are constantly calling Bible accounts into question, saying that they are inaccurate and false, as of yet, not once have archaeological discoveries, proven ANY Bible accounts to be wrong. Picture by Pixabay