BRONZE SERPENT. - On the march of some months that brought the Israelites from Moses to the Arnon, in view of the "steppes of Moab," the people once again manifested their weariness at the fatigue of the journey in the desert and the insufficiency and monotony of their nourishment with manna. These were complaints "against the Lord" as well as against Moses. Then God sent them the punishment of the "fiery serpents," whose bite was deadly.

It is not clear what species of serpents is meant; perhaps the term "fiery," or "burning," Heb. idraph, alludes to an inflammation or fever that the bite provoked. Since the people had repented, God, through Moses' intercession, indicated the remedy in a b. s., which was to be erected on a pole: whoever had been bitten and looked upon it would be healed; and so it happened (Num. 21:4-9). The symbolism does not seem difficult to grasp: it is chosen in harmony with the setting. Hung on the pole, the serpent was as it were rendered harmless; the sight of the image recalled the punishment deserved; the act of trust, which the gaze was meant to provoke and signify, merited healing from God (Wis. 16:6-8). The object was preserved: but in Israelite popular tradition a cult became attached to it: it is found again under the name of Nehushtan (Nebulsilin) among the idolatrous objects that Hezekiah had destroyed (II Kings 18:4). The meaning of the b. s. found at Gezer (ancient

BRONZE SERPENT - The punishment of the serpents. Painting by P. P. Rubens (17th cent.) - Madrid, Prado Gallery.(phot. Anderson)

Israelite, ca. 1000 B.C.) and of other serpent figures,
perhaps ex-votos, is not clear.

The b. s. is interpreted in Jn. 3:14 ff. as a symbol of
Jesus, lifted up on the Cross, whence he gives life to whoever believes in him.

For the tempting serpent of Adam and Eve: v. ADAMO; EVA.

Bibliography2 works

BIBL.: G. Ricciotti, Storia d'Israele, I. Torino 1932, p. 263 ff.; P. Heinisch, Das Buch Numeri, Bonn 1936, p. 82.

Giovanni Rinaldi

@incollection{ec11_serpente_di_bronzo, author = {Rinaldi, Giovanni}, title = {Serpente di Bronzo}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {XI}, pages = {394--395}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1953}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/serpente-di-bronzo} }

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Bronze Serpent

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