carrying staff is an ordinary thing back in the days of moses, much like some of us who carry mobile phones even to the toilet.
The most ancient existing biblical text goes back to the times when magic was related to herbs, spice and many plant origin items, the same with mirrors and magnets as they exhibited some interesting physical phenomena.
The most ancient forms of magic were concentrated in the knowledge of herb and spice applications to restore health and it was practiced by shamans of primitive tribes. That is why a staff made out of a tree branch is closely related to a set of items of plant origin.
In more recent but old days, British mythology did believe in spirits living inside wood and that is why the distillation of wood produces (an alcohol) called spirit that was first drunk as a spiritual-potion to alter the state of consciousness but today it is rather in common use to get drunk. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
However, historically, it was the staff of Moses that was the first item ever to be used in a story related to divine spells. The ancient Egyptian Ankh does not count as a magical item but as a weapon and spears too although they do use a staff with a pointed tip.
During the times of the Roman Empire when the Bible was first written the superstitious beliefs concerning magic, spells and demigods was commonplace and that is how the more ancient lore was enhanced to frighten the Romans or keep them at bay concerning the Jewish prophets. Even Numerology was a commonplace then as evident in John’s Revelation and the number of the beast.
If you do know of any reference to an object like a staff that was used for magic that predates the staff of Moses please let me know.
Kind regards.
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