Numbers 21:4-9

Numbers 21:4-9
With thanks to page sponsor:
Michael E. McCue,
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Lake Almanor, CA
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, Susanville, CA

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Hebrew Interlinear Bible, WLCv, WLC5, CHES, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
- BaMidbar 21: Massoretic, Hebrew, Aramaic, JPS.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Navigating the Bible: Text/Rabbinic commentary and Divrei Torah.
- Chapter II, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans, Ignatius of Antioch (c. 50 - 115). (Longer Version only - 4th cent interpolation)
- Chapter XII of the Epistle of Barnabas. (ca. 130)
- Chapter LX, The First Apology of Justin Martyr. (c 150)
- IV.II.7, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
- Chapter X, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
- Chapter XX, On Baptism, Tertullian (c. 198)
- II.22, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 208)
- Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
- From the Geneva Notes.
  - "...and our soul loatheth this light bread: Meaning manna, which they thought did not nourish."
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary
  - "Let not the contempt which some cast on the word of God, make us value it less. It is the bread of life, substantial bread, and will nourish those who by faith feed upon it, to eternal life, whoever may call it light bread."
- From Wesley's Notes.
  - "The serpent signified Christ, who was in the likeness of sinful flesh, though without sin, as this brazen serpent had the outward shape, but not the inward poison, of the other serpents: the pole resembled the cross upon which Christ was lifted up for our salvation: and looking up to it designed our believing in Christ."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  - "Disappointment on finding themselves so near the confines of the promised land without entering it; vexation at the refusal of a passage through Edom and the absence of any divine interposition in their favor; and above all, the necessity of a retrograde journey by a long and circuitous route through the worst parts of a sandy desert and the dread of being plunged into new and unknown difficulties--all this produced a deep depression of spirits. But it was followed, as usually, by a gross outburst of murmuring at the scarcity of water, and of expressions of disgust at the manna."
Contemporary References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Commentary, Numbers 21:4-9, Elizabeth Webb, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
  - "The text for today doesn't seem like altogether good news."
- "Fiery Snakes and Copper Vipers," John C. Holbert, Patheos, 2012.
  - "This very peculiar, spooky text would certainly have remained in deserved obscurity if John's gospel had not dragooned it for an allegorical reference to Jesus' crucifixion..."
- "Is It Magic or a Symbol of Free Speech?" Russell Rathbun, The Hardest Question, 2012.
  - "The human ability to speak dissent against the Lord."
- Commentary, Numbers 21:4-9, Terence E. Fretheim, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
  - "Deliverance comes, not in being removed from the wilderness, but in the very presence of the enemy. The movement from death to life occurs within the very experience of godforsakenness. The death-dealing forces of chaos are nailed to the pole."
- Numbers 21:4-9, Lent 4B, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- Numbers 21:4-9, Studies on Old Testament texts from Series B, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
- Numbers 21:4-9, Lent 4B, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
  - "A serpent could be a symbol of evil power and chaos in some cultures while in others it was a symbol of life, fertility and healing. In Num 21:4-9 it encompasses both these extremes - a means of death and a way of healing."
- Numbers 21:4-9, Lent 4B, The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Howard Wallace Audrey Schindler, Morag Logan, Paul Tonson, Lorraine Parkinson, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
  - "Their faith is proved by their obedience in following Moses? instructions and turning toward the serpent. As they do that, they actually look beyond it and find the mercy of God."
- Desert Scribblings, Numbers 21:4-9, Geoff McElroy, 2009.
  - "The one thing, the one enemy we all share is death itself. And God takes death and stands it on its head; God announces that out of death comes new, vibrant, resurrection life."
- The Attacking Serpents, James Arne Nestingen, The Lenten First Lessons, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Seminary, 1985.
  - "In response to the complaints, God becomes both the enemy and the redeemer."
- "Meaning of the Snake," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
- Parshah Chukat, text, commentary, stories, sermons & articles from Chassidic Masters and others, from Chabad Lubavitch.
- "A Man of Peace," Torah Commentary by Rabbi Shai Held. BeliefNet.
  - "With Aaron's death, the Israelites lost their most effective peacemaker."
- "Snake on a Stick," Patrick J. Willson, The Christian Century, 1994.
  - "The simple equation endures: the cure for snakes is a snake; the cure for human life is one man's life; the cure for death is death."
- "Red Cow, Red Blood, Red Dye: Staring Death & Life in the Face," Rabbi Arthur Waskow, The Shalom Center.
  - "What cures us from serpents? The cure is a serpent that we call forth for ourselves , even more deeply 'serpenty' in its essence than the deadly living snakes."
- "Hukkat Commentary," Rabbi Michael Graetz, The Shalom Center.
  - "'Kedusha' can cleanse us totally, but if we try to yoke it, to work it, it becomes unfit."
- Parshas Chukas, Divrei Torah from The Project Genesis Torah Study. Index to numerous Orthodox articles and studies on Numbers 19:1 - 22:1.
- Numbers 21:4b-9, Holy Cross, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
Articles & Background:
- "Brazen Serpents," by Prof. Eliezer Segal, University of Calgary.
  - "Let the serpent remind you of this basic truth, that holiness will be achieved through perfecting your humanity, not by denying it or seeking to transcend it."
- "The Bronze Serpent History," T. Hoogsteen, Kerux Online Journal of Biblical Theology.
  - "The only way to overcome the poison, to get the venom out of the System and out of the heart is to regard the Son of man, crucified, and rejoice in the completeness of the plan of salvation."
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
- Joines, Karen Randolph, "The Bronze Serpent in the Israelite Cult," Journal of Biblical Literature, 1968.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Keyes, Louise L., "About a Serpent," Worship, 1959.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Nestingen, James Arne Nestingen, "The Lenten First Lessons," Word & World, 1985. (Section on this text begins on page 94.)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Provençal, Philippe, "Regarding SRP in the Hebrew Bible," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2005.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Willson, Patrick J., "Snake on a Stick," The Christian Century, 1994.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Reviews:
Sermons:
- Persevering In The Faith , E. Carver McGriff, SermonSuite.
- "Sin, Snakes, and Salvation," John Jewell, 2000.
With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Lent 4B, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2012.
- "Children's Literature: A Resource for Ministry," March 18, 2012, Union Presbyterian Seminary. Connections: Numbers 21:4-9 and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.
- "God Heals the People Bitten by Snakes," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
- "The Bronze Serpent," children's study, puzzles, coloring sheet, etc. Higher Praise Christian Center.
- "Oh No! Snakes!" Jim Kerlin, childrensermons.com.
Drama:
Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Images for this week's readings, Pitts Theology Library Digital Image Archive.
- Bulletin Cover Art (Numbers 21:9), Will Humes, Word & Table.
- Clip Art: The Serpent in the Wilderness, Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld woodcuts, World Mission Collection, Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.
- Bronze Serpent, Clip Art, Anglican Diocese of Dunedin, New Zealand.
Hymns and Music:
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- "God's People Were Impatient," Carolyn Winfrey Gillette's hymn remembering Moses lifting up the bronze serpent for healing and Jesus suffering on the cross for our sins, Tune: ANGEL'S STORY 7.6.7.6 D ("O Jesus, I Have Promised"). New hymn available with music from The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for Lent 2011.
- Hymns, midi files, scores at Blue Letter Bible/Cyber Hymnal:
  - I've a Message from the Lord (Numbers 21:8)
Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Brazen Serpent
- Manna
Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
- Healing
Study Links and Resources for the Book of Numbers