BEE
Bees are abundant in Palestine due to the large number of flowers and the warm climate that prevails in the region. They are very numerous in the Jordan Valley and in the southeastern region.
Although in biblical times its scientific cultivation was not known, it was known in the wild since ancient times. In the Bible it is mentioned four times (Deut. 1:14; Judges 14:8; Ps. 118:12; Isa. 7:18). On the other hand, as a woman’s name (Deborah “the Bee”) it was common among the Israelites (Gen. 35:8; Judges 4:4).
Honey was the almost only source to sweeten delicacies until well into the 18th century. Some exegetes believe that the bees mentioned in the episode of Samson (Judges 14:8) would not be honey-making bees, but another species, which the Hebrews also called by the name “Deborah.”