Biblical Bees Imported from Turkey?.....

Ancient Biblical beehives have been discovered in the northern Israeli site of Tel Rehov, in the Jordan Valley.

Archaeologists found the 3,000-year-old remains of honeybees – including workers, drones, pupae and larvae – inside some 30 clay cylinders, according to a report published in the June 8 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. A high-resolution microscope was used to study the bodies of the small insects. The scientists said they found that their legs and wings appeared to indicate they more closely resemble the bees found in modern-day Turkey than those of present-day Israel.

The bee body remains appear to belong to a different subspecies altogether than those that exist today in the Jewish State, the research team said, adding that the find suggests that ancient bee keepers might have imported the species for its special characteristics, such as better honey production or a milder temper.

This is the common signification of honey in the Scriptures. Therefore it is said that “the judgments of Jehovah are sweeter than honey, and the dropping of the honeycombs” (Psalm 119:102, 103).

The land of Canaan is called “a land flowing with milk and honey,” because it represents“heaven, where is the good of charity and truth of faith, and thence pleasantness and enjoyment”(Arcana Coelestia #6857).

Yet, because spiritual bees judge wholly from appearances, and may mistake the appearance of industry and the promise of use for genuine usefulness, honey also represents what appears like the pleasure of use, but may be merely selfish elation. In this sense of selfish delight, it was forbidden that any honey should be used in the sacrifices to the Lord. ( Leviticus 2:11; Apocalypse Explained #619.)

As the stings of bees in a good sense signify the imputation of idleness and opposition to pleasant work, by which the love of such pleasantness defends itself, in the perverse sense they signify such charges against those who object to merely selfish pleasure. Bees are therefore mentioned once as means by which genuine goodness is destroyed, and selfish pleasure substituted. “And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah shall 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” (Isaiah7:18, 19). ( Apocalypse Explained #543; Arcana Coelestia #9331)

Author: JOHN WORCESTER 1875

The bee body remains appear to belong to a different subspecies altogether than those that exist today in the Jewish State, the research team said, adding that the find suggests that ancient bee keepers might have imported the species for its special characteristics,

Nothing really special about that. Not having powered vehicles didn't keep the people of that time from traveling far and trading far.

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