Kanehbosm
Kanehbosm
Many people think the only intoxicating drug the Bible says God gave His people for use in worship is wine, "shekar" in the original Hebrew language (among other words), "alcohol." Alcohol was used in the Passover and later in the Lord's supper. However, there is probably another drug you haven't considered. Here is a link to a bunch of ancient bible verses. If you look at them all, you'll see they refer to a word that different versions of the English Bible variously translate as "calamus" or "fragrant cane." The difference is because the actual translation is uncertain. The Hebrew word is "kanehbosm," singular "kanehbos." It was an ingredient in the holy anointing oil for priests and kings, and it is mentioned as being used for incense also. King James translated "kanehbos" into the word "calamus." However, modern Hebrew researchers who care about this sort of thing have determined it could very well mean "cannabis", or "marijuana," instead. For more information, see Rabbi Kaplan's 1981 translation, The Living Torah, pg. 40-41. Linguist Sula Benet (also known as Sara Benetowa) did a lot of linguistic research into this ancient word also in the early part of the 20th century.
Maybe that doesn't sit well with you since cannabis is "a drug." However, even if you disregard that translation and go with King James' translation instead, calamus is still a psychoactive plant. So most likely, the holy anointing oil contained a "drug" of some type.
The recipe for the anointing oil is in Exodus 30:23. After converting shekels and hins to modern measurements, you'll find nearly 6 pounds of kanehbos was extracted into about 5 liters of the oil according to the ancient recipe. This oil was a very potent solution of kanehbos, among the other ingredients. The priests were instructed to anoint themselves with the oil. They would pour it over their heads. This would cause it to be absorbed into their blood through the thin skin on the scalp. They would do this before serving in the temple. Kings also were anointed in this way. Anointing was an *extremely* holy thing to the Hebrews, and in fact the words "Christ" and "Messiah" actually mean "Anointed One."
Evidence of the psychoactive nature of kanebosm in holy scripture. Fermented drink is said to give joy and gladness in Deuteronomy 14:26, and wine in Psalm 104:15. So also the anointing oil is said to give joy and gladness in Psalm 45:7 and in other passages.
Whichever plant you think kanehbos is, the point is this: we must never judge or look down on someone for simply using drugs, whether grape based drugs or any other. To do so could be to look down on the Anointed One Himself. Drug abuse is one thing, but simple drug use is a different story. Many churches today judge people as "sinners" for using things God has never called sin. That is somewhat similar to how the evangelical, religious Pharisees used to operate in Jesus Christ's day. Even cannabis seeds are one of the most nutritious, renewable, and harmless food sources for mankind, and they are illegal to grow in the U.S. due in no small part to the political will of evangelical Christians. This sort of thing is what the Spirit warned Paul would happen to the church in 1 Timothy ch. 4.
We must not twist our way around or ignore what the very first chapter in the Bible very plainly says about what God's children can consume. (Genesis 1:29) Taken on the whole, Scripture indicates that both intoxicating grape wine and intoxicating plants are blessed by God in moderation. Holy men of the Bible seemed to have drunk wine and used anointing oil. For instance, in Daniel 10:3, we see that the prophet Daniel fasted from meat, wine, and the anointing for 3 weeks. That is because he was using all of those things as a part of his normal life, all of them gifts from above.
Of course we must always bear in mind what was meant by God's instructions to "be sober" (as was discussed in the wine advice page). Drug abuse, like alcohol abuse, is nothing to play with, and Scripture very clearly warns about the dangers of excess. Excess in food or drink can cause terrible damage to your life and your soul. We should also keep in mind that some of the plants God gave us have evolved into deadly or extremely addictive substances. Some carry potential legal consequences also.
Nonetheless, when a church advises people to stop enjoying anything God has made, if they are enjoying it safely and in moderation, then that church is proving herself to be deceived. On top of that, she could even be condemning Christ Himself. The words "Christ" and "Messiah" literally mean "Anointed One" and it is very possible He was anointed with the holy oil at some point. Mark 6:13 mentions the disciples anointing people with oil, and James 5:14 instructs the church to do the same, coupled with prayer. Cannabis is very possibly an ingredient in that anointing oil, as I've discussed. Cinnamon was certainly one ingredient, and it is also a healing agent with anti-microbial properties. Christ did not bring only spiritual and miraculous healing. He brought a physical oil too, as an example to us. Cannabis may be the most therapeutically effective plant ever created. God made mankind with cannabinoid receptors throughout the body, in the brain, spinal cord, and all over. Cannabis has been shown to fight too many ailments to count, even cancer. I can testify personally to its safety and extremely effective healing properties. It has rid me of pain no over-the-counter medicine could even touch; it has healed me in weeks of diseases my doctors could not cure for years. It has never killed anyone, it is less addictive than alcohol, and it can be grown very cheaply.
Nonetheless, despite what Genesis chapter one says for us all ("I give you every seed bearing plant..."), America outlawed one of the most important plants God ever made in the 1930's. The political will to outlaw cannabis was generated through the large scale use of deceitful and often racist media campaigns. This is well documented. Many powerful men in American media and government suddenly turned very anti-cannabis in the early 20th century. It is probably no coincidence that the "drug war" and the campaign to remove cannabis from the world started around the same time in history many enormous American drug companies began to accumulate enormous amounts of wealth and influence in American government and national media. Cannabis was sold in drug stores at the time, and it was competing with their new, patented medicines. As a "product of nature," cannabis cannot be patented. It is extremely effective, cheap, and widely available in nature. Connect the dots and realize how the CEO's of drug companies view cannabis. The deceptive media campaigns that started this prohibition never stopped. For instance, see this video about some of the more recent lies . Generation after generation has been brainwashed, even you and I. To this day, the Federal government still tells us cannabis has "no medical value" despite the mountains of evidence to the contrary. If all this doesn't smell fishy, then you don't have a nose.
If you love your neighbor as yourself, then see this story about a Father whose child was about to die under all that U.S. medical care had to offer. When he finally decided to leave the laws of this world behind and give the child cannabis, in an attempt to save his life, the child was healed. . Or, see also this man who treats Parkinson's Disease with cannabis. You can see the medical relief of his disease almost *immediately* (click here for the video). There are hundreds of other diseases and thousands of other personal examples.
Genesis 1 says all seed bearing plants were given to us for food, and when cannabis is eaten or applied in moderation it helps and heals us. Many use it for recreation and profit only ; they ignore its medical and spiritual uses. That does not make the plant evil. Many use the grape and alcohol for fun and profit only, but in Communion the plant becomes part of our very salvation. Cannabis was given to us by God for important reasons. America has forsaken the first chapter of the Bible, and she has forsaken the liberty that the blood of her Fathers provided. Worse still, she has used her enormous wealth and power to pressure nearly all other nations on the planet to join her crusade against Christ and the liberty He has given us.
"It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil." Isaiah 10:27
"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." Psalm 45:6,7
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him,
Jason
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