The Brazen Serpent; journeying to Pisgah. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it.”
So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. Num 21:8-9
INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT13
The Experiences in the Wilderness
II. FROM SINAI TO THE JORDAN, Numbers 10:11-22:1
7. The Canaanites; the Fiery Serpent; the Amorites Conquered, Num_21:1-35; Num_22:1-41
30. Why was the brazen serpent needed and what was accomplished through it?
ARAD DESTROYED
When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negev (the South country) heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim [the route traveled by the spies sent out by Moses], he fought against Israel and took some of them captive.
So Israel made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If You will indeed hand over these people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
The LORD heard the voice of Israel and handed over the Canaanites; then they utterly destroyed them and their cities. So the name of the place was called Hormah (dedicate to destruction).
THE BRONZE SERPENT
Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the [branch of the] Red Sea [called the Gulf of Aqabah], to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient, because [of the challenges] of the journey.
So the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no bread, nor is there any water, and we loathe this miserable food.”
Then the LORD sent fiery (burning) serpents among the people; and they bit the people, and many Israelites died.
So the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD, so that He will remove the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent [of bronze] and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten will live when he looks at it.”
So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it on the pole, and it happened that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.
The Song of the Well
Now the sons of Israel moved out and camped at Oboth.
They journeyed on from Oboth and camped at Iye-abarim, in the wilderness facing Moab, toward the sunrise.
From there they set out and camped in the Wadi Zered.
From there they journeyed on and camped on the other side of [the river] Arnon, which is in the wilderness that extends from the boundary of the Amorites; for [the river] Arnon is the boundary of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
That is why it is said in the Book of the Wars of the LORD: “Waheb in Suphah, And the wadis of the Arnon [River],
And the slope of the wadis That stretches toward the site of Ar And leans to the border of Moab.”
From there the Israelites went on to Beer, that is the well where the LORD said to Moses, “Gather the people together and I will give them water.” [Joh_7:37-39]
Then Israel sang this song, “Spring up, O well! Sing to it, [Rom_14:17]
The well which the leaders dug, Which the nobles of the people hollowed out With the scepter and with their staffs.” And from the wilderness Israel journeyed to Mattanah,
and from Mattanah to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth,
and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the field of Moab, to the top of Pisgah which looks down on the wasteland.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Numbers 21:1-20
THE BRAZEN SERPENT; JOURNEYING TO PISGAH
It often falls to our lot to compass the land of Edom! It is bad enough to have to fight the desert tribes, but it is harder to traverse the long circuitous route, which a little kindness on our brother’s part might have rendered needless. What discouragement, heart-break and fainting we cause one another!
The story of the brazen serpent was quoted by our Lord to Nicodemus, Joh_3:14. It exemplifies the law that like cures like. Our Lord came in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, and as such was nailed to the tree, that the progress of sin and death might be arrested. Whosoever directs to Him the look of faith shall have everlasting life.
Near the pole-foot sprang up the brook, Num_21:17-18. We are reminded of the connection between the Cross and Pentecost. Spring up, O well of the Holy Spirit, in our hearts, and churches, and schools! The living water is within; summon it!
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