The Bronze Snake
By Jlyn
@Jlyn10 (11965)
Malaysia
September 24, 2015 12:26am CST
In Numbers 21:4-9, after the Israelites have travelled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom, they started to complain to Moses again of no bread and water.
Then God sent venomous snakes among them and many Israelites died. The people then pleaded with Moses to pray for their sins and Moses did.
So God commanded Moses to make a bronze snake and put in up on a pole, so that anyone who was bitten can look at it and live.
Why do you think that Moses would have thought the Lord’s instructions were strange?
In Exodus 20:4, God commanded, “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.”
Is the bronze snake considered as an idol?
9 people like this
10 responses
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
28 Sep 15
Maybe it should be in first aid guide books. If bitten by a rattlesnake or a cobra don't get anti-venom or suck the poison out - just find a bronze snake to touch as quick as you can.
3 people like this
Would sure save us a lot than going to the docs. 
@Jlyn10 (11965)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 15
@arthurchappell I don't think picture counts. So you would have to make your own bronze snake if you want to go to the jungle. 
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
29 Sep 15
@Jlyn10 would a picture of one count? If I head for the jungle should I take a brass snake with me?
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
24 Feb 17
The context shows that the image is not a problem unless it is is worshipped by some act such as bowing down to it. For example, in the most holy compartment of the tabernacle or the temple there were statues of two angels. See Exodus 25:18 and 1 Kings 6:23
Exodus 20:3-5 Young's Literal Translation
3 `Thou hast no other Gods before Me.
4 `Thou dost not make to thyself a graven image, or any likeness which [is] in the heavens above, or which [is] in the earth beneath, or which [is] in the waters under the earth.
5 Thou dost not bow thyself to them, nor serve them: for I, Jehovah thy God, [am] a zealous God, charging iniquity of fathers on sons, on the third [generation], and on the fourth, of those hating Me,
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
24 Sep 15
Snakes were frequent in Celtic art. A popular one was a snake with a ram's head. In antique sites you find also sometimes a lot of ex-voto deposited by people wanting to cure a decease : eyes, legs, arms...
I think that the snake of the Hebrews was more an ex-voto with a prophylactic virtue (curing the bite of a snake) than an idol.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
24 Sep 15
@Jlyn10 Not at all if the ram's head is proportionate to the snake. Sometimes you don't even notice that a snake has a ram's head at first view, like on the Gundestrup cauldron.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search The Gundestrup Cauldron Gundestrup Discovery site in Denmark The Gundestrup cauldron is a richly decorated silver vessel, thought to date between 200 BC and 300 AD, placing it within the lat
1 person likes this
@xstitcher (32682)
• Petaluma, California
17 Jun 21
No, as they were not worshipping the snake (like they did the golden calf). It's been said that the snake on a pole was a foreshadow of Jesus, as He said,
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jesus would not compare Himself to an idol.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7365)
•
3 Jul 19
I had a look at commentary from Chabad and Chumash. The Rabbis said that when Israel looked (the word is "gaze") heavenward and subjected their hearts to their Father in heaven, they would be healed, but if they would not "gaze", but just glanced or looked, they would waste away. So, "gaze" at it intently, heavenward.
In the previous chapter 20, Israel complained so disgustingly about everything in the wilderness. And blamed Moses for being led into the wilderness to freedom. They would not look to their Father in heaven and would not subject themselves to YHVH.
1 person likes this
@PrarieStyle (2486)
• United States
24 Sep 15
Moses didn't make it for himself or them, he made it for God.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40316)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Nov 15
I think that it was an idol, but only because people worshiped it. It was not simply a work of art.
1 person likes this
@Jlyn10 (11965)
• Malaysia
15 Nov 15
But in Leviticus 26:1 God said, "'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God."
Why would God instruct Moses to make an idol for the people to worship when He wants His people to worship Him alone?
@just4him (317250)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
9 Nov 15
It was a symbol of salvation first. Those who looked at it would live and not die. Jesus gave reference to the bronze snake in John 3:14-16. However, it was used as an idol as mentioned in 2 Kings when King Hezekiah destroyed the bronze snake because people were worshiping it.
1 person likes this
@Jlyn10 (11965)
• Malaysia
13 Nov 15
Thank you so much for the clear explanation.
Do you think that Moses would have thought it strange that God had asked him to make that bronze snake for the people to look at when God had told the people not to worship any idols? I doubt Moses would question the Lord when He commanded him to do something.
