Reconsidering the Nehushtan as a Magical Healing Device within the Geographical, Cultural, and Magico-Religious Context of the Ancient Near East
According to Numbers 21:4–9, the Nehushtan was a copper/bronze snake effigy that functioned as a ‘magical’ healing tool to cure the early Israelites from venomous snakebites they incurred during their desert wanderings. What is unclear from the narrative is the symbolic significance of the event, th...
Main Authors: | , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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Series: | Religions |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/14/11/1404 |