A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
A land of wheat, and barley. These cereal fruits were specially promised to the Israelites in the event of their faithful allegiance to the covenant of God (Psalms 81:16). The wheat and barley were so abundant as to yield 60 percent and often 100 percent (Genesis 26:12; Matthew 13:8).
Vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates. The limestone rocks and abrupt valleys were entirely covered, as traces of them still show, with plantations of figs, vines, and olive trees. Though in a southern latitude, its mountainous formation tempered the excessive heat; and hence, figs, pomegranates, etc., were produced in Palestine equally with wheat and barley, the produce of northern nations.
Honey. The word honey is used often in a loose indeterminate sense, very frequently to signify a syrup of dates or of grapes, which under the name of Diba is much used by all classes, wherever vineyards are found, as a condiment to their food. It resembles thin molasses, but is more pleasant to the taste (Robinson). This is esteemed a great delicacy in the East, and it was produced abundantly in Palestine.