Biblical bees

These, believe it or not, are beehives dating back to the time of King Solomon. They were excavated at Tel Rehov in the Jordan Valley and are the first found in the Near East dating from Biblical times.

Bees are first mentioned in the Bible in Deuteronomy 1:44 when the Amorites were said to chase like bees. In the Psalms David talks of his enemies surrounding him like swarms of bees and in Isaiah the insects are personified as Assyrians and Egyptians; Israel's ancient enemies. No wonder they wanted to find a way to marshal them.