The honey of bees is an apparent exception from the rule that the
products of the unclean animals are forbidden. The honey mentioned in
the Bible is mostly the juice of fruit, especially of dates; but the
honey of bees is also mentioned (Judges xiv. 8). It is assumed that
honey does not contain any part of the bee itself, but is merely the
juice of the flowers sucked and again discharged by the bees. (See
Babyl. Talm., Bechoroth 7b; Maim., Mishneh-torah, Hil. maachaloth
asuroth iii. 3.)
Note 8.
In addition to the things enumerated in this chapter as forbidden,
there is the prohibition of “wine of libation” (יין נסך). Everything
used in the worship of idols was condemned, and could not serve as
food, drink, or any purpose; it was אסור בהנאה. Wine was frequently
used by heathens in libations to their idols. The wine of a heathen was
therefore always suspected of having been employed in idolatrous
libations, and was consequently forbidden as יין נסך. Since, however,
such libations have ceased this prohibition has also lapsed.
It has, however, not lapsed in its entirety. It is only the אסור הנאה
that is no longer in force. The prohibition of using wine prepared by
non-Jews (סתם יין) as a beverage still continues. This and similar
prohibitions were intended as a barrier against the increase of mixed
marriages among the Jews. (Comp. Babyl. Talm., Shabbath 17b.)