《戶籍記》第21章所述的故事充滿神秘色彩。在提默納黑(Timnah) 的一座寺廟中發現了一條銅蛇。

根據《列王紀下》十八4的記載，希則克雅王「打碎了梅瑟所製造的銅蛇」，這證據著猶太人一項延續的傳統。

在這個故事中，我們注意到一些細節預示著耶穌的到來。

首先，人們第一次承認自己「犯了罪」。

耶穌的到來正是為了拯救世人脫離罪惡。

其次，根據《傳世紀》蛇曾被詛咒；令人驚訝的是，它卻成為了人們免受蛇毒侵害的救贖工具。

第三，這條銅蛇被放置在桿子上，位置很高。

第四，被蛇咬傷的人只要注視這條銅蛇就能痊癒。

所有這些細節都將在耶穌向尼苛德摩解釋自己的使命時而出現。

The story told in chapter 21 of the Book of Numbers is mysterious. A bronze snake has been found in a temple at Timnah. According to 2Kings 18:4, King Hezekiah “broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made,” a sign of a lasting tradition among the Jews.

In this story, we notice some details that prepare the coming of Jesus.

First, for the first time the people acknowledged that they had “sinned.” Jesus came to save humankind from sin.

Second, the snake was cursed; surprisingly, it became an instrument of salvation from the poison of the snakes.

Third, the snake is placed on a pole, in a high position.

Fourth, those bitten by snakes needed simply to stare at the bronze snake to be healed.

All these details will appear in the words Jesus speaks to Nicodemus to explain his mission.