Bible Dictionary
Serpent, Fiery
The fiery serpents were venomous snakes sent among Israel in the wilderness as judgment for their complaints. God provided healing for those who looked at the bronze serpent Moses raised on a standard.
Definition
The fiery serpents were deadly snakes sent among Israel in the wilderness as judgment for the people’s complaints. Their bite caused many deaths, but God provided healing through the bronze serpent Moses raised on a standard.
Biblical Usage
Those who had been bitten lived when they looked at the bronze serpent. Jesus used this event as an illustration of the lifting up of the Son of man. The bronze serpent was later preserved and destroyed by Hezekiah because it had become an object of idolatrous veneration.
Historical Background
The serpents appeared after Israel entered the sandy desert region extending from the mountains of Edom toward the Persian Gulf. The sources propose a venomous species but do not establish the identification with certainty.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(LXX. “deadly,” Vulg. “burning”), Num. 21:6, probably the naja haje of Egypt; some swift-springing, deadly snake (Isa. 14:29). After setting out from their encampment at Ezion-gaber, the Israelites entered on a wide sandy desert, which stretches from the mountains of Edom as far as the Persian Gulf. While traversing this region, the people began to murmur and utter loud complaints against Moses. As a punishment, the Lord sent serpents among them, and much people of Israel died. Moses interceded on their behalf, and by divine direction he made a “brazen serpent,” and raised it on a pole in the midst of the camp, and all the wounded Israelites who looked on it were at once healed. (Comp. John 3:14, 15.) (See ASP.) This “brazen serpent” was preserved by the Israelites till the days of Hezekiah, when it was destroyed (2 Kings 18:4). (See BRASS.)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>See SERPENT, 3, (2).</p>