ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tu’apulelulu Me 18, 2023

Goat Milk and Date Syrup חלב ודבש

HU ‘AKAU MO E HONI

DEUTERONOMY 11:8-9

"YOU SHALL THEREFORE KEEP THE WHOLE COMMANDMENT THAT I COMMAND YOU TODAY, THAT YOU MAY BE STRONG, AND GO IN AND TAKE POSSESSION OF THE LAND THAT YOU ARE GOING OVER TO POSSESS, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG IN THE LAND THAT THE LORD SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS TO GIVE TO THEM AND TO THEIR OFFSPRING. A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY."

TEUTALONOME 11:8-9

8 Ko ia te mou tauhi ‘a e tu‘utu‘uni kotoa ‘a ia ‘oku ou tu‘utu‘uni atu he ‘aho ni, koe‘uhi ke mou mālohi, pea ke mou hū ‘o ma‘u ‘a e fonua ‘oku mou a‘a atu ke ma‘u; 9 pea koe‘uhi ke mou fakalahi homou ngaahi ‘aho ‘i he kelekele, ‘a ia na‘e fuakava ai ‘e Sihova ki ho‘omou ngaahi kui te ne foaki kiate kinautolu mo honau hako, ko e fonua ‘oku mahutafea ‘i he hu‘akau mo e honi.

Goats were the main source of chalav ("milk") for Israelites. And since there's no evidence of beekeeping in ancient Canaan, d'vash ("honey") is probably a syrupy liquid made from dates. Thus the "land flowing with milk and honey" is the "land flowing with goat milk and date syrup." Not as romantic sounding, to be sure, but more accurate. The promise of these protein - and carbohydrate-rich products of the land doubtlessly fed the hopes of Israelites while they were in the wilderness.

The land of Israel was like an expanded Eden. Vines, herds, and flocks in abundance. On this soil, God was preparing the world for an even more expanded Eden, when the blessing of Abraham would flow to all peoples. When Jesus came, he sent out his disciples to the ends of the earth to plant little "Edens" all over the world, where the milk of his Word slakes parched souls and the honey of his grace feeds hungry hearts.

O Lord, "how sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Ps. 119:103).