Although there are no sure dates for Abraham or Moses, Abraham’s departure from Ur is placed between 2000 BC and 1850 BC and the exit of Moses and the Israelites from Egypt about 1250 BC. The oldest written sources of information about Abraham and Moses are found in the Pentateuch and probably date from the 10th century BC. These sources are known as J and E. Source J (Yahwist) appears devised to establish Israel’s right to Canaan: the Promised Land. Source E (Elohist) originated in the northern kingdom (Israel) in the 8th century BC. Other sources, known as D and P, are thought to date to about the 5th century BC. In Jewish and Christian tradition Moses is seen as the author of the Pentateuch or first five books of the Bible. This tradition is clearly mistaken.
By tradition the religion of Moses is related to the religion of Abraham. The same god is said to illuminate both religions. Promises made to Abraham were fulfilled through the religion of Moses: Abraham’s descendants took possession of the Promised Land. It is maintained the god of Abraham identified himself to Moses as YHWH. The literal meaning of YHWH appears to be ‘I am/shall be what I am/shall be’. Some scholars speculate Jethro, father-in-law of Moses, introduced Moses and the Israelites to YHWH worship. On a visit to Moses at the ‘mountain of God’ Jethro took the leading role in a religious ceremony attended by Moses and other important Hebrews. It is this occasion that leads some scholars to propose YHWH as a Kenite god. The Kenites are supposed to be descendants of Cain. The tribe of Judah eventually absorbed them. Mt Sinai is the mountain upon which the Law was given to Moses. The name Sinai probably comes from the original name of the moon god Sin. YHWH manifested his presence and ‘spoke’ to Moses in a tent called the Tabernacle. Smoke coming from the Tabernacle meant the Israelites did not travel. YHWH made himself known to Moses through a burning bush. The significance of this event remains obscure. It appears the story refers to no known fertility or agricultural deity. It is possible the burning bush story may be related to Tree of Life stories.
In ‘Exodus’ the angel of YHWH appears to Moses in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush. Then YHWH speaks to Moses from the middle of the bush, and identifies himself as the god of Abraham. Evidently, the burning bush was used to facilitate the manifestation of YHWH and his angel. Such a bush might have psychedelic properties. One bush with psychedelic features, used in religious practices in Africa and India, is Cannabis sativa. The great amount of material - thoughts and feelings - released from the unconscious by psychedelic agents like cannabis is alluded to in the literal meaning of psychedelic: mind-manifesting. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the active ingredient in cannabis. A substance like THC found naturally in the human brain has been named anandamide - from the Sanskrit word for bliss: ananda. Unlike heroin, cannabis is not physically addictive. There are no withdrawal symptoms associated with cannabis. No other plant could more appropriately serve as the burning bush of ‘Exodus’.
Judaic tradition claims Moses is the greatest of the Jewish prophets. Other Jewish prophets are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. Deuteronomy, (source D: dates to the 5th century BC), is written as a farewell address by Moses. Law is the basic theme of Deuteronomy. One part of it is known as ‘the law book’. In Deuteronomy ‘Moses’ tells the Israelites what they can expect if they keep the law of YHWH, and what will happen if they do not keep it. The author informs them that YHWH will send them another prophet like Moses, and that YHWH would place their nation ‘high above all nations he hath made’. Deuteronomy ends with Moses climbing Mt Pisgah to view the Promised Land. He is never seen again - one tradition records YHWH buried Moses in the valley opposite Beth-peor. The closing words of Deuteronomy spotlight Moses as a great prophet whom YHWH ‘knew face to face’.