Difference between revisions of "Category:Serpent of Bronze (subject)"

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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.

The Serpent of Bronze in ancient sources

Numbers

Numbers 21:4-9 --

Book of Kings

2 Kings 18:4 --

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

In Depth

• Serpent of Bronze (arts)

External links

• Wikipedia