Wilderness and Conquest
Epoch 45 · c. 1407 BC
Serpent in the Wilderness
When the people grumble again, God provides healing through the bronze serpent lifted up before them.
Header image source: Unsplash search: river canyon
Bible references
Scripture in full
The passages connected to this timeline moment are shown in full below.
Numbers 21:4-9
They set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient along the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us from Egypt to die in the desert? There is no food and no water, and our hearts detest this miserable food.” And Yahweh sent among the people poisonous snakes; they bit the people, and many people from Israel died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and against you. Pray to Yahweh and let him remove the snakes from among us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And Yahweh said to Moses, “Make for yourself a snake and place it on a pole. When anyone is bitten and looks at it, that person will live.” So Moses made a snake of bronze, and he placed it on the pole; whenever a snake bit someone, and that person looked at the snake of bronze, he lived.
LEB via Biblia API
Why this moment matters
The lifted serpent becomes a pattern later fulfilled in Christ. Faith looks to God's provided remedy in the midst of judgment.
About this section
God teaches holiness in the wilderness, renews covenant loyalty, and brings Israel into the land through Joshua.
Further study
Previous epoch
Epoch 44 · c. 1443 BC
Korah's Rebellion and Priestly Vindication
Next epoch
Epoch 46 · c. 1407 BC
Balaam Blesses Israel
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