One of the topics covered in Chapter 21 deals with Moses and the bronze serpent. The narrative raises
more than a few eyebrows. What are readers to make of this bizarre passage?
“And the people spoke against God and against Moses. Wherefore have
you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread
and there is no water…”
Some background: “And the people spoke against God and against Moses.” Let us put this latest
national tantrum into perspective. This had not been an outburst due to a water shortage. Neither had
they waged complaint about not having food to eat. Targeted here were God and Moses. The nation’s
scornful words lacked cause and exposed an ugly streak, one that belched from a very deep place within
them.
The people grew to despise heaven-sent manna. “And our soul loathes this light bread.” Just because
they detested manna—truly an awesome repast—the Hebrews lashed out. As for their sin, it falls into
the category of slander. Jewish tradition attests to and likens this type of sin, so sinister, to the bite of a
snake. A slimy, slithering snake bites for no other reason other than to hurt its victims; it cannot possibly
eat them.
How apt, then, that the desert unleashed vicious vipers that attacked the slanderous nation, injecting
within them deadly venom. “And God trained snakes upon the people. And they bit the people; and
much people of Israel died.”
Realizing their sin, the nation expressed contrition. “And the people came to Moses and they said: We
have sinned, for we have spoken out against God and you. Pray to God.” Moses’ supplication succeeded,
and the snakes wiggled away. The bad news was that many Hebrews suffered from the poison still
circulating in their blood. Heaven sought to heal these lingering after-effects. “And God said to Moses:
Make a [figure of a] serpent and hoist it upon a flagpole. And it shall be that anyone who looks [up] to it
will live.”
One classic Bible commentator correctly advanced that had a Heaven-sent remedy not arrived, the
people would have continued to writhe in pain from snake bites. Logically speaking, any man who has
been mauled by wild animals does not cast a glance upward—at an image of said savage beast—and
derive relief from his lacerations and blood poisoning. What, then, is the Torah teaching us with this
outlandish narrative?
God delivered a lesson in faith. Man’s ills and recovery, ultimately, are attributable to the Maker. That is,
rehabilitation or restored health needs to be seen from a prism of supernatural—not natural—causes.
Moses hoisted a banner upon a high pole. This provided a centralized focus anyone could see, regardless
of where he stood. Taking stock, we note that a living snake inflicted damage; an image of a lifeless one
waving in the wind brought relief.
“Hoist it upon a flagpole.” The Hebrew word here for flagpole allows for a double entendre. Thus,
besides “flagpole”, it also means “miracle.” The nuanced word’s two meanings give pause, encouraging
Jews to probe the real underlying reasons behind disease and healing. This, in sum, is the message
behind Moses and the bronze serpent.
