Is Cannabis in the Bible

Does the Greek word kannabis which is hemp derive from the Hebrew "sweet cane" in Ex 30:23? And if so: Did they smoke it?

First since there is a Greek word for hemp, that is kannabis, (the Latin word for hemp is cannabis.) it would seem clear that if the Greek word were derived from the Hebrew words "q'neh-bosem" or that the Greek writers of the Septuagint would have known that derivation and have written kannabis meaning cannabis or hemp in Ex 30:23 instead of (kalamos) which means reed or cane, which is the same Greek word used for papyrus and all other reeds. The coincidence of similar sound between q'neh-bosem and cannabis is probably just that, coincidence.

In Ex 30:23

the mixture of spices which were to be mixed together which has among them the Hebrew words that your Rabbi says refers to cannabis could hardly be an intoxicating potion no matter what the composition of the "chrism"since it was to be used for pouring as an anointing oil on the head of Aaron and his sons and the conclusions of all the mixing is: "This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations." So it really doesn't matter if you defend the herbs or not that were in this oil. What ever the mixture was made of, the result was not to send Aaron on a "high." Even if hemp, though doubtful, were in this passage, it would not be justification of its use as a hallucinogen.

But the derivation of the word that has been given to you seems to me to be in error. The Hebrew word for Calamus in Ex 30:23 is made up of two words. They are qeneh-bosem. The word bosem is "sweet: (just above this is qiniman-bosem which is translated "sweet cinnamon") Again bosem is "sweet". That leaves us with the word qeneh (actually q'neh) which is only related to hemp in that hemp is also a reed or a cane. But is hemp a "sweet" cane? I don't know as I have never even seen a part of the plant. I suppose however that hemp is not a "sweet" cane. I have smelled the aroma at hippie gatherings at Stone Henge and I did not consider it sweet. Thus what ever was in the mixture of anointing oil, called calamus in English, it was probably not cannabis or hemp

The word calamus is used 3 times in the KJV. Of these both the Song 4:15 and the Ezek passage have the word q'neh in Hebrew without the word sweet following as in Ex. There is no "bosem" Thus Calamus is a proper translation of q'neh both of which mean reed or cane and they are generic, that is any reed or cane. Again, the word calamus in Song 4:15 is from the Hebrew q'neh alone. The word bosem (sweet) is not in the text in Song 4:15. The word q'neh translated calamus here appears 62 time in the OT and is translated reed, cane, spear, pen etc. beside calamus.

Now let us do the word cannabis. There is no word for this drug in Biblical Hebrew just as there is no word for galaxy in Biblical Hebrew since Galaxies were not discovered until the early part of the 20th century. Yes there is a word for galaxy in modern Hebrew,- it is a transliteration "galaqsah" an obvious transliteration of an English word, and so the word for cannabis in modern Hebrew is "qannabbos" which is obviously a transliteration of the English or Greek word. Thus the Hebrew word for hemp is derived from English (or Greek) not ancient Levitical Hebrew in Ex 30:23. Cannabis then is not mentioned in Ex 30:23 but "sweet cane" is mentioned

The word "calamus" as you have already discovered is derived from Greek. The Greek word (Kalamos) is used in the LXX in place of q'neh in Ex 30:23 and simply means reed or cane, and as the measuring reed used by Ezekiel to measure the temple of his vision. It stands for any kind of reed or cane. There may be a remote possible phonetic relation between hemp which is a reed called cannabis and the Greek word for reed which in English is calamus but there is not any Hebrew connection. And in spite of what I just wrote, it is very doubtful there is any etymological relation between the words cannabis and calamus.

Thus I would say your Rabbi smokes weed and would like to find some Biblical justification for it, rather than to say he is an expert in ancient Hebrew herbal mixtures. I doubt very much that he is.

I agree that legal opposition to the use of this weed and the penalties for possessing it is over done by authorities in our government at this time, but I do not use it , never have, and believe no Christian would use it except a backslider or one just baptized trying to get over it. Get high on the Holy Ghost just as it says in Eph 5:18 don't get high on booze, but fill yourself with the Holy Spirit". (Miller's translation) means "don't get high on weed, but let the Holy Spirit be your high through Christian music, worship, etc.

Let us be sure to see that even if there were a connection between the hemp plant and Ex 30:23 it was not going to be used for a hallucinogen. That kind of worship is a part of idolatrous and forbidden speaking-to-the-dead religions but not a part of Mosaic or Christian worship. Hemp makes good rope and good sack cloth. I am sorry that the misuse of the plant creates a shortage in the good uses the plant can be put to.

Semetic languages and Hebrew

Semetic Languages

All the Semetic languages are very similar. They may have a different script like the wedge shaped cuneiform of the original Assyrians. That script changed with the coming of Aramaic block script but still the same language. The Behistun Inscription of Darius I is an illustration of Aramaic written in cuneiform script about 500 BC. The cuneiform script was invented by the Sumerians (3500 BC?) whose language was different (a Hamitic language.) But the culture and science (Astronomy, the zodiac has not changed to this day, 360 degree circle and angles based on it, a base 60 and more) was adopted by the conquering Semites about 2000 to 1800 BC.

Another illustration of similar but not the same languages is Italian and Spanish. Same grammar, many similar words, but not the same language. But speakers of each can understand much of what the other speaker is saying. I had the experience with a French church of Christ evangelist in Lille, France, who was born in Italy. He didn't do English and I didn't do French but we communicated more or less in Spanish and hand signs. Hebrew and Aramaic is like that.

All the Semetic languages are related. Aramaic is similar to Hebrew and Arabic actually having the same Alef Bet for all three languages. Aramaic was the language of the whole of the Fertile Crescent (from the Persian Gulf round through Caananite Palestine) at least from the time of the Assyrian Empire beginning 800 BCE and probably before to Abrahamic time, on through New Testament times. The returnees from Babylonian captivity, 536 BCE, spoke Aramaic and it became the lingua franca of the Jews through the time of Ezra to the Advent of The Nazarene Carpenter. Since all people spoke Aramaic, Targums (Aramaic paraphrases of the scriptures) were written in the inter testament period so that attenders of the synogogue could understand what was taught. Targums are Aramaic paraphrases of Hebrew scripture and commentary. As you know Jesus spoke Aramaic. There is no Hebrew quotation from Jesus. Even Tabatha qumi is Aramaic. Eloi Eloi lama sabachtani is Aramaic. The Hebrew is Ely Ely lama azavtani. It means the same thing.

Original Hebrew script differs from the Block style Hebrew we are used to. In fact the block Hebrew characters are actually Aramaic and were adopted after the Babylonian captivity. To see an inscription in the Hebrew that was extant in Hezekiahs time click http://www.moellerhaus/22.htm and scroll down till you find the inscription that was written inside Hezekiah's Siloam Gihon Tunnel.

The Inscription, now in the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul, was found in 1880 by two boys wading inside Siloam tunnel some 20 feet above the western reservoir .

The ancient Hebrew script is nothing like the Aramaic block letters we now use. A part of the Bible is written in Aramaic, that is, a portion of Daniel is written in Aramaic and -- a large portion of Ezra is written in Aramaic and even the Hebrew portion has many Aramaic words.

100 years before Christ The Essenes are said to have composed the DSS Isaiah Scroll. The language of the scroll is Hebrew with a heavy Aramaic accent and some (a few only) Aramaic words. The script is manuscript Hebrew and does not look like the current characters. My Isaiah Scroll introduction pages are actually a grammar of the scroll. You might want to have a look. http://www.moellerhaus/qum-intr.htm

Of the Semetic languages the grammar is almost identical, the Alep Bet the same and much (but not all) vocabulary is shared. All pronominal suffixes are the same except Aramaic adds an open sylable. Like kem in Heb. is 2plural you (ye) and the same in Aramaic is kemah.

The Arabic is still the same: Salaam aley Kem is "peace upon you (ye) Hebrew is: Shalom
aley-kem

Resurgent Islam predicted after the end of the Turkish Empire as early as 1650

Resurgent Islam. Historical interpreters have predicted a resurgent
Islam from the beginning of the 1800's and even earlier. I am just some one
following the lead of those who have gone before in many protestant
denominations including Anglicans, all of whom unfortunately have thrown
their prophetic heritage away with the popularity of the left behind
doctrines.

Durham (1647)and bishop Newton (1750) were both Anglicans, Scott, Farber, (1815) were Methodists, Barnes (1853) a Presbyterian, and B.W.Johnson (1878) of the noninsturment church of Christ. All the preceding predicted a resurgeance of islam after the end of the Turkish Empire(1917).

When most Islamic nations in mid 1800's were under the control of European powers (mostly
English and French) it would hardly seem to be the time to predict a
reassertion of Islamic power is the future after predicting that the Turkish
empire would "dry up" first. But that is what these interpreters and
many more did.

They place the time after the fall of the Turkish Empire 1917 and in
conjunction with the rise and fall of Russian Atheism and the return to
political power of the Papacy lost in 1870 and restored in 1931 which has
crown stronger as Islam increases. It is similar to the argument for
maintain the "temporality" that Luther opposed which the Papists said was
needed to maintain the crusades and hold back the Turks. The Papists are
using it again today to maintain political assertiveness. The alliance of
Soviet atheism, renewed papal political power and an alliance with Islam to
impede true religion was voiced by most of those mentioned above in the 18th
and 19th centuries.

The fall of the soviet system (1991) has taken place and is ongoing to its ultimate
completion. Already, no nation will ever again collectivize its peasantry
and nationalize their industry, that is over, not even the "communist"
Chinese have held the line. Perhaps Cuba and a few other minor entities are
still enamored with the false concept but it will all soon pass as it has in
the former soviet satellites,

The next events of the next 20 years, will include the passing of political
organized power of the Vatican. They will no longer hang anyone under
Blackfriars Bridge, The Bishop of Rome will still be around but not in the
same position. All his embassies world wide will close. and perhaps the
church will get back to the business of interpreting the Bible.
Islam is undergoing great changes. The changes have already been outlined
in prophecy. Islamic nations will open to more and more political and
religious freedom. Islam it self will not disappear but political and
religious freedom will come to Islamic nations. Political freedom and
religious freedom are one in the same. If you have one you have the other.

The Almighty, through the sword of Jesus' mouth, is the most potent weapon and
with all these entities here the war is ideological and will be won on an
ideological battleground and not with the weapons of war.

It is like this: If God is to discipline any person or nation he does not
need our help to do so. I think the Jews were under a discipline from God
and scattering was the punishment. Any nation who felt that God needed help
in disciplining Jews from the Romans, to the Spanish, and then Germans has
suffered themselves. God does not need our help. Islamic nations will open
to Political and religious freedom. I think the current bloody events to
help that concept along are ill conceived and will just impede what is
inevitable. My own position from the 1980's been that the Christian truth
brought to the light of day in our time by Lesbian Atheists is the major
force (not the only ideology but the main one) that must and is bringing
about change in politics and religion in Islamic nations. The woman's
movement is unstoppable and it will do more to bring change than all wars and
the atomic bombs that may yet fall before western politicians get wise.
When you hear that some Baptist and Methodist and perhaps some church of
Christ missionaries have opened little missions in Riyadh, Mecca, and Medina
then you will know the season is well underway.

From 1930 to 2030 Satan is
scheduled to loose his major force against God. All sin will not be gone,
but the 1. Dragon (Godless secular government as an enemy of the growth of
the Christian religion) 2. The Beast ( The false Babylonish religion and
political power of the Papacy) and 3, The False Prophet (the incredible
influence of Islam from Gibraltar to the Indus River and Indonesia to cloud
the minds of multiple millions for more than 1300 years) will be gone.
Militant Islam will be as dead in Riyadh as communism is in Warsaw and
Kiev. Give it 20 or so years. The only thing that will make it longer is
humans trying to help it along with war. That will just delay the
inevitable and we in the west will pay a high price for our interference.

A Critique of the Septuagint Version of the Bible. The LXX

About the LXX. It is not always a faithful translation of the Hebrew text. You probably know that the Hebrew text of Daniel has never been in doubt from the time of Artixerxes Longamanus, but that the LXX translation of Daniel was considered faulty from it inception until it was re-translated in the LXX after the 1st century A.D.

Another complaint I have about one using the LXX and assuming it is precise in conveying what the Hebrew text contains is the fact that, like the NIV, it is an interpretive translation and not a word for word translation and that the LXX translaters used great liberty in giving a very loose and interpretive translation to difficult texts,– actually more liberty than the NIV people used. The highest point of such liberty of adding explanations to the text is found in Isaiah where the text of the LXX differs very greatly in the Hebrew passages where Isaiah's extensive use of "play on words" or alliteration is found.

The variety and liberty of adding of explanatory words was used by the LXX translators because: The play on words or "double entendre" in Hebrew is lost in translation because the alliterative use of homonyms, etc. do not show up in another language, so the LXX translaters took the literary privilege to explain the double meaning in the alliterations. These explanatory additions in the LXX are so extensive in Isaiah that many "scholars" say that the book of Isaiah in the LXX is translated from a different "vorlage" meaning a different text, or source-- they are wrong.

I believe that the LXX uses the same freedom to add to the text in Daniel 9.

I Know When Jesus is not Coming

In my humble opinion, I do not see the second coming of Jesus of Nazareth followed by his actual presence in Palestine. (Required by the pre-mil doctrine) I believe that the theory that Jews rejected his humble first coming but will accept him in majesty is faulty and my opinion is that every knee ought to bend to the Carpenter but that every knee will bow, willing or not, to the one seated on the throne. To be saved everyone, Jew and Gentile, must bow to the Carpenter, the humility of whom is a demonstration of his majesty.

In Isa. 66:22 the continued imagery of the new heavens and the new earth is in the context of the birth of the church, and world evangelism, bringing back gentiles out of all nations to keep Jewish customs and worship and actually becoming priests and Levites which is impossible under the law of Moses. It must be spiritually fulfilled in the first coming and the church age which is the renewed heavens and earth.

Israel, Zion, Jerusalem, are words that are used figuratively in Messianic contexts and were spiritually established during the first coming of the Victim of Calvary and the mission of his chosen apostles.

The Roman letter teaches Gentile Christians are the Israel of God having been grafted into the root that has been abandoned by the natural nation.

Zion is the perfected condition, not a place, that God has prepared for us. Christians dwell in Zion now. "O Zion haste thy mission high fulfilling to tell to all the world that God is light."

Christians, the apostle Paul assures us, dwell in Jerusalem which is above, against which the natural nation has been and is still at war. Christians endure the pain of this world but seek a city. At least in pospect we already live in Zion, Jerusalem, and in the new heavens and new earth.

Contrary to Futurist interpretations that are popular now with the Left Behind group. "Glorification of Israel" prophesies began to be fulfilled at the return of the remnant Jews from Babylon followed by an ingathering of the Jews of remnants of every tribe of physical Israel and the founding of the second commonwealth, and the setting up of the second temple, and "in those days and at that time" God would and did bring forth "a righteous branch unto David." and his coming did fulfill all the "David" and "branch." prophesies.

The symbolic 1000 years of Revelation 20 is a panorama of the Gospel age, from the first coming when Jesus bound Satan which resulted of Satan being bound in the nations until his being loosed again to a short time (100 to 200 years) after the loosing of Satan. We seem to be living in the period of the loosing of Satan. I do not see the second coming in my lifetime.

I do not believe that those who differ with my opinions necessarily will be lost on that account, since it is the blood of the cross that saves, not escatology. Neither do I believe that being right as I assume I am on this subject will save my soul on that account. Only submission to Jesus' will, as it is written "He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him."

There does not seem to be anything to obey in escatology except to watch for his coming.

I will watch, and I do not know when he is coming but I KNOW WHEN HE IS NOT COMING, for instance as long as the Vatican is a state and accepted political power do not look for the second coming. And as long as Islamic nations are not open to religious and political freedom do not look fot the second coming, because the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will overcome all of his enemies in historical time.

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

The Future for Islam

It would appear that we are in a crisis period that could get out of hand and inclide a wider conflagration. However I believe that what ever else happens that in less than 20 years there will be no Islamic terrorists and most Islamic nations will open to political and religious freedom.

I look for an expansion of the Christian religion with evangelists from eastern nations doing most of the activity, particulary Chinese Christians and othereas like the Filipinos who already send out many missionaries.

That does not mean that changes will come without pain and struggle. But what ever horrors are endured along the way the outcome is sure. That is: the end of militant Islam and a political order more like that in Turkey with democracy and the Mullahs with much less political power and freedom for Christians to preach thew gospel in now closed nations.

One of the main forces at work is the move to allow more freedom for women in Islamic nations. Nothing can stop that trend. Any move to freedom for any facit of Islamic society will also move other needs for freedom and human rights to be respected.

If all the wicked doctrines of the world have freedom to be expressed openly and Christianity is also afforded the same freedom, then WE WIN.

The war we are in will not be won with guns, It is as much of and more an idiological battle like the one we had for over 70 yeears with the USSR. The battle with them was finally won on the ideological field and not in Korea or Viet Nam. It is a battle for the minds and hearts of men and with Islam we are losing at present. That is mainly because the whole Western World has thrown away the only doctrines, (the ethics of Jesus) that can defeat the Islamic onslaught that is engulfing Western Europe and threatens to engulf us if the rate of Islam continues to grow in this country at the speed it is gaining ground. This war is ideological but bloodshed is inevitable before it is over.

The Vatican Statehood Ends Soon

The Vatican State is an enemy of New Testament Christianity.

If you look closely at my writings you will find that I do not accuse a single person of being anti Christian nor do I condemn the Catholic Church as an entity. It is the Papal system. In prophecy the antichristian prophecies speak of a "beast" or a "horn" both of which are always political systems, empires or kingdoms. So antichrist is a political system, not a person.

Can good people do good things while being involved in a false system? I knew a dear woman who had several children for whom she made constant novenas. That is making long prayers at the church for nine weeks, doing the stations of the cross and other things she hoped would make God pay attention to her children's needs. I would be the last to say such a person was antichristian. God bless her.

Have you heard of Malachi Martin? Find his books and read them. He died recently in NYC. He died a Jesuit priest in the Roman system. He was never defrocked. More than that he was for many years an important member of the Vatican staff on the Roman Curiei or Curia. He certainly knew the inside if nay one would. He never left the church. A remarkable person.

Some his books are
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Church. out of print and hard to find. In it he gives the same sordid history of the papacy of the middle ages that you will find outlined in Halley's handbook of the Bible (still in print and most preacher's have a copy)
The Final Conclave is a book of fiction in which Martin describes the dilemna in Castle Gondolpho when there is no solution to naming a new pope. and the papacy dies a natural death. Actually Martin describes several scenarios which could bring about the end of the Vatican State which he believed was not far in the future.

Martin, as a good Roman Catholic, believed that the Vatican government was the problem entity in the church.
His last book The Keys of His Blood, which can be bought on Amazon, used, reletively cheaply is a 1200 page book. He had been threatened with discipline because of his writings predicting the end of the Papal State. As with me I do not look forward to the end of the bishop of Rome but of the Papal system as a human government. This government is now sim[ply a shadow of its former power and it has not reached this position of relative weakness (compared to pre 1500 to 1800) in one bound but it has suffered decline of power by degrees beginning with the 1790's. So Malachi wrote the 1st 600 pages of that book to satisfy his critics in the Vatican and then the 2nd 600 pages is the most strong and stinging exposure of the many different political intrieges and parties that still practice antichristian political schemes. Get the book and read it.

There is a lot on him on line. Read just one URL to get a taste. here is the URL
http://www.theharrowing.com/martin.html

After reading him I concluded he believed about the same thing I do. and he believed that the end of the Vatican as a state is imminent. I believe within the next 20 years or before 2020 the bishop of Rome will no longewr rule over a body politic which still deals in political assasinations and other things usually associated with the CIA.