Actually it may well be a direct description, since we know the forests at the time were crawling with predators. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tore forty and two children of them. Forest dwelling animals - bears, lions and boars - would occasionally come out to hunt, and a number of famous biblical figures have encountered them. The tribal leaders sent by Moses may have heard or even seen these animals, and felt as if the land might literally devour them, and that only giants might have a chance to survive in such a wild territory, a land flowing with milk and honey.
We must remember that in those days, the fertile valleys were already inhabited by pagans, so the area available for the Israelites to settle was the rough, wild mountain range. Eventually they established a flourishing agricultural society up there, and pushed the predators away.
Following the destruction, the Assyrians brought over foreigners, to settle the deserted Israelite cities:. And so it was, at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. After the Assyrians destroyed the towns and fields, and the land reverted to "briers and thorns", the predators returned and were able to pick off the occasional newcomer.
No wonder Isaiah said in his vision that " With arrows and with bow shall one come thither" - for fear of the roaming predators. And so, according to Isaiah, the land flowing with milk and honey is also the land that devours its inhabitants. Another strange use of "a land flowing with milk and honey" appears during the long years in the desert, when the people complain to Moses:.
They are claiming that he has taken them AWAY from a land flowing with milk and honey, i. The answer lies in the instructions Josef gave his brothers, when they came down from the famine-stricken Canaan to seek refuge in Egypt:.
The Egyptians hated shepherds because of the damage their animals cause their fields, so it followed that the historically herd-owning Israelites would be allotted a place like Goshen - a distant piece of land, away from the fields, that would have plenty of natural vegetation for the animals; a land flowing with milk and honey.
The phrase "A Land Flowing with Milk and Honey" describes areas that are untended by man and covered in wild vegetation. So long as the Israelites made their living off of animal husbandry, it signified the promise of a rich, comfortable life. But once the forests were cleared and the people settled and started working the land, it became a dire warning. You need milk, not solid food! Milk gives sustenance but that many are not yet ready for solid food deeper teaching.
There are many variations of words for milk and milk products in the Old Testament see below , but milk clearly was a staple of the Hebrew diet. Variations of the word include sweet milk, soured milk This soured milk was carried by travelers who mixed it with meat, dried it, and then dissolved it in water to make a refreshing drink such as that set by Abraham before the messengers Genesis , cheese, butter, curds and symbols of blessing and abundance.
As mentioned above, most milk came from cows Isaiah , sheep and goats Proverbs ; Deuteronomy ; and of course, humans Isaiah Butter and cheese were also made and eaten by those in Old Testament times 1 Samuel as well as curdled, sour milk which still forms, after bread. It was one of the main foods of the poorer classes in Arabia and Syria. After setting awhile, the drink sour milk would carry an intoxicating effect leading some to believe that the fermented variety is the drink that Jael gave to Sisera Judges It is interesting to note that Abraham was from a pastorate tribe who traveled with the growing seasons to allow animals to graze, making milk one of the main and often only sources of nutrition?
Additionally and this is a good one! In the Old Testament, milk is most often mentioned with honey to symbolize blessing and abundance. Here are some of the most common references to milk and honey in the Bible Old Testament :.
For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. Milk in the Bible has also been used to symbolize whiteness Lamentations and as a symbol of marital bliss Song of Solomon It is mentioned several times in the Old Testament including in the below scriptures.
You may give it to the foreigner residing in any of your towns, and they may eat it, or you may sell it to any other foreigner. But you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Biblical scholars have argued that this meant milk and meat should not be cooked or eaten together. Other scholars believe that it relates to the Caananite sacrifices, but there is not conclusive evidence to support either theory.
It is intriguing to me that the Hebrews have many different words for milk and milk products, in the New Testament, the Greeks have a fraction of that number. Here are the most commonly used Hebrew words for milk and milk products in the Old Testament. This heaven-sent food has been compared to coriander seed and is described as tasting like wafers with honey.
When the Israelites finally arrived at the border of Canaan, they sent spies to evaluate the situation. The scouts confirmed the abundance of the land by noting that it flowed with milk and honey.
According to Deuteronomy and Deuteronomy , the land also boasted produce, including wheat, barley, pomegranates, fig trees, vines, and oil. So why did milk and honey become the trademark description of the Promised Land? Some scholars suggest that milk was one of the most important staples in the Hebrew diet next to bread.
He held up his hand in protest. He explained that in ideal conditions, a hive of bees will collectively travel as far as 55, miles and tap more than two million flowers to make one pound of honey. A productive hive can make up to two pounds of honey in a single day. It is even referenced in the Bible on numerous occasions. More often than not, however, honey is used metaphorically and symbolically in the Bible to convey a deeper spiritual truth or idea.
Here, then, are a few of the most significant references to honey in the Bible and what they signify. We see this description repeated throughout the first five books of the Old Testament Exodus ; Leviticus ; Numbers ; Deuteronomy and even beyond Joshua Honey would naturally imply the presence of bees, who are active in the pollination of flowers, produce, and vegetation. And as far as milk is concerned, an abundance of milk-producing cows or goats would mean fertile land, rich fields, and pastures for them to graze.
The mention of John the Baptist living off of a diet of locusts and wild honey Mark ; Matthew points to a man surviving off of the land and the natural resources provided by his Creator.
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