Nehushtan

Nehushtan was the name given to the bronze serpent that Moses made in the wilderness during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (Numbers 21:8-9). The name "Nehushtan" is derived from the Hebrew word for bronze or copper, "nehoshet."

According to the biblical account in Numbers 21, the Israelites spoke against God and Moses, complaining about the lack of food and water in the wilderness. As a result, the Lord sent venomous snakes among the people, causing many to die. When the people repented and asked Moses to intercede on their behalf, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. Anyone who had been bitten by a snake could look at the bronze serpent and live (Numbers 21:4-9).

The bronze serpent became a symbol of God's healing power and deliverance from the consequences of sin. However, by the time of King Hezekiah, who reigned over Judah from approximately 715 to 686 BC, the Israelites had begun to worship the bronze serpent as an idol. In 2Ki.18.4, we learn that Hezekiah "removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan)."

Hezekiah's actions demonstrate his commitment to religious reform and his desire to purge the land of idolatry. By destroying the bronze serpent, which had become an object of misplaced worship, Hezekiah emphasized the importance of worshipping the Lord alone and not relying on physical objects or symbols for spiritual deliverance.

The story of Nehushtan serves as a reminder that even objects originally intended for good purposes can become idols if people place their trust and devotion in them instead of in God. It also highlights the need for periodic religious reform and the importance of maintaining proper worship practices.