铜蛇

铜蛇（英语：Nehushtan或Nehustan；希伯来语：נחושתן‎或נחש הנחושת‎）是《希伯来圣经》记载的一个缠绕在一根杆子上的铜制蛇形圣物。

希西家王（公元前715/716年至687年在位）将耶路撒冷圣殿中的铜蛇摧毁^[1]，在希西家王之前并无所谓Nehushtan之物^[2]。

蛇的形象

1508年米开朗琪罗绘制的关于从蛇瘟疫中解救犹太人的西斯廷教堂天顶画。

蛇崇拜在青铜时代的迦南就已经出现了：考古学家在青铜时代的前以色列城市出土了蛇形祭物cult object（英语：祭物cult object），其中两个发掘点位于梅吉多、^[3]一个位于基色、^[4]一个位于夏锁、^[5]其他两个位于示剑。^[6]

根据洛威尔·K·汉迪（Lowell K. Handy）的说法，铜蛇最初是寺庙中可以治疗蛇咬伤的神的迷你版形象。^[7]这个神的名称具体不知，不过“铜蛇”之名应是来自其材质，因为נחש意即“蛇”、נחשת意为“黄铜”或“青铜”。

起源

以色利人从何珥山出发前往红海，受到了挫折便开始抱怨耶和华和摩西，耶和华便降下火蛇惩罚以色列人，后者向摩西求救，最终受耶和华之旨，摩西建造了一条挂在杆子上铜蛇，凡看到这条蛇的人都得到了救赎。^[8]祭祀典上则说摩西是用“铜蛇”治疗以色列人的火蛇咬伤的。^[8]

毁灭

列王纪下有提到一条以色列人设立的铜蛇。^[9]马索拉版本说“他（希西家王）称它作Nehushtan”。根据杨氏直译本，Nehushtan的意思为“一块黄铜”。^[10]凯伦·伦道伕·琼斯（Karen Randolph Joines）认为Nehushtan不是以色列人的常用词语，而是希西家对这个铜蛇的特称。^[11]

当希西家成为国王后便将这条蛇销毁了，^[12]希西家王销毁铜蛇的原因是“因为到那时以色列人仍向铜蛇烧香”，且将此事件放在“希西家行耶和华眼中看为正的事”之后，视为当时宗教改革的一部分。

在基督教中的重要性

“

摩西在旷野怎样举蛇，人子也必照样被举起来，叫一切信他的都得永生

”

——约翰福音 3:14–15

出现在民数记中的这条铜蛇因后来又被耶稣（约翰福音）使用而更加出名，当耶稣和尼哥底母^[13]讨论他的命运时曾引用了摩西五经中的一段文字，将人子与这条铜蛇做了直接的比较。司布真声称在此耶稣提及了他未来的苦难。^[14]

参见

参考文献

具体引用

^ 2 Kings 18:4
^ "Modern exegesis holds two different opinions in regard to the meaning of the word "Nehushtan," which is explained either as denoting an image of bronze, and as entirely unconnected with the word "naḥash" (serpent), or as a lengthened form of "naḥash" (comp. νεεσθάν in the Septuagint), and thus as implying that the worship of serpents was of ancient date in Israel. The assumption that the tradition about "Nehushtan" is not older than the time of Hezekiah is, however, not contested." Jewish Encyclopedia, s.v. "Nehushtan" （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）; H. H. Rowley, "Zadok and Nehushtan" Journal of Biblical Literature 58.2 (June 1939:113-141) p. 132 observes, "We have no record of this Brazen Serpent before this time, save for the obvious aetiological story in Num. 8 f, which states that this sacred symbol had its origin in the Mosaic age".
^ Gordon Loud, Megiddo II: Plates plate 240: 1, 4, from Stratum X (dated by Loud 1650-1550 BC) and Statum VIIB (dated 1250-1150 BC), noted by Joines 1968:245f.
^ R.A.S. Macalister, Gezer II, p. 399, fig. 488, noted by Joiner 1968:245 note 3, from the high place area, dated Late Bronze Age.
^ Yigael Yadin et al. Hazor III-IV: Plates, pl. 339, 5, 6, dated Late Bronze Age II (Yadiin to Joiner, in Joiner 1968:245 note 4).
^ Callaway and Toombs to Joiner (Joiner 1968:246 note 5).
^ Lowell K. Handy, The Appearance of Pantheon in Judah, in Diana Vikander Edelman, "The triumph of Elohim", 1995, p.41. [2013-07-14]. （原始内容存档于2011-06-10）.
^ ^8.0 ^8.1 Numbers 21:4–9
^ Noth 1968，第156页
^ 2 Kings 18:4
^ Joines, Karen Randolph. The Bronze Serpent in the Israelite Cult The Bronze Serpent in the Israelite Cult. JOBL, 87. 1968: 245, note 1.
^ "The Mystery of the Nechushtan", Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review, pp.58-63, March/April 2007.
^ Olson 1996，第137页
^ C. H. Spurgeon, "The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent" 互联网档案馆的存档，存档日期2013-02-12., 1857

书籍

此条目包含现处于公共领域的出版物中的内容：Kaufmann Kohler, Isaac Husik, Morris Jastrow Jr., J. Frederic McCurdy. Brazen serpent. Singer, Isidore; et al (编). 犹太百科全书. New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company. 1901–1906.
Noth, Martin. Numbers: A Commentary Issue 613, Vol. 7. Westminster John Knox Press. 1968: 155–8. ISBN 978-0-664-22320-5.
Olson, Dennis T. Numbers. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press. 1996-1999: 135–8. ISBN 978-0-8042-3104-6. 请检查|date=中的日期值 (帮助)

外部链接

Jewish Encyclopedia, s.v. "Nehushtan" （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）
Naassian （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）". The Mystica.
The Bronze Serpent: Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:9-15 （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）

[1] 2 Kings 18:4

[2] "Modern exegesis holds two different opinions in regard to the meaning of the word "Nehushtan," which is explained either as denoting an image of bronze, and as entirely unconnected with the word "naḥash" (serpent), or as a lengthened form of "naḥash" (comp. νεεσθάν in the Septuagint), and thus as implying that the worship of serpents was of ancient date in Israel. The assumption that the tradition about "Nehushtan" is not older than the time of Hezekiah is, however, not contested." Jewish Encyclopedia, s.v. "Nehushtan" （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）; H. H. Rowley, "Zadok and Nehushtan" Journal of Biblical Literature 58.2 (June 1939:113-141) p. 132 observes, "We have no record of this Brazen Serpent before this time, save for the obvious aetiological story in Num. 8 f, which states that this sacred symbol had its origin in the Mosaic age".

[3] Gordon Loud, Megiddo II: Plates plate 240: 1, 4, from Stratum X (dated by Loud 1650-1550 BC) and Statum VIIB (dated 1250-1150 BC), noted by Joines 1968:245f.

[4] R.A.S. Macalister, Gezer II, p. 399, fig. 488, noted by Joiner 1968:245 note 3, from the high place area, dated Late Bronze Age.

[5] Yigael Yadin et al. Hazor III-IV: Plates, pl. 339, 5, 6, dated Late Bronze Age II (Yadiin to Joiner, in Joiner 1968:245 note 4).

[6] Callaway and Toombs to Joiner (Joiner 1968:246 note 5).

[7] Lowell K. Handy, The Appearance of Pantheon in Judah, in Diana Vikander Edelman, "The triumph of Elohim", 1995, p.41. [2013-07-14]. （原始内容存档于2011-06-10）.

[#1-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Numbers 21:4–9

[Noth,_156-9] Noth 1968，第156页

[10] 2 Kings 18:4

[JOBL,_87-11] Joines, Karen Randolph. The Bronze Serpent in the Israelite Cult The Bronze Serpent in the Israelite Cult. JOBL, 87. 1968: 245, note 1.

[12] "The Mystery of the Nechushtan", Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review, pp.58-63, March/April 2007.

[13] Olson 1996，第137页

[14] C. H. Spurgeon, "The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent" 互联网档案馆的存档，存档日期2013-02-12., 1857

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