Category:Serpent of Bronze (subject)

The Serpent of Bronze refers to an episode in the narrative of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt (Numbers 21:4-9).

Overview

According to ancient Jewish tradition (Numbers 21), in the desert of Exodus the people of Israel murmured against God. As a punishment many died of the poisonous bites of "fiery serpents". Moses erected the bronze image of a serpent, so that the sufferers could look at it as an act of repentance and be healed.

According to the Books of Kings, the image was put in the Jerusalem Temple and became an object of adoration until it was destroyed by King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:4).

The Gospel of John reinterpreted the image as a symbol of the cross, while the Mishnah would remind its readers that it was God not the serpent who brought salvation.

Serpent of Bronze, in ancient sources

Numbers

Numbers 21:4-9 (NRSV) -- [4] From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." 6 Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Book of Kings

2 Kings 18:4 -- 4 Hezekiah removed the high places, broke down the pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan.

Gospel of John

John 3:14-15 -- As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life

Mishnah

Mishnah R.H. 29a -- The people should look up to the God of heaven, for it is not the serpent that either brings to life or puts to death, but it is God