銅蛇

銅蛇（英語：Nehushtan或Nehustan；希伯來語：נחושתן‎或נחש הנחושת‎）是《希伯來聖經》記載的一個纏繞在一根杆子上的銅制蛇形聖物。

希西家王（公元前715/716年至687年在位）將耶路撒冷聖殿中的銅蛇摧毀^[1]，在希西家王之前並無所謂Nehushtan之物^[2]。

蛇的形象

蛇崇拜在青銅時代的迦南就已經出現了：考古學家在青銅時代的前以色列城市出土了蛇形祭物cult object（英語：祭物cult object），其中兩個發掘點位於梅吉多、^[3]一個位於基色、^[4]一個位於夏鎖、^[5]其他兩個位於示劍。^[6]

根據洛威爾·K·漢迪（Lowell K. Handy）的說法，銅蛇最初是寺廟中可以治療蛇咬傷的神的迷你版形象。^[7]這個神的名稱具體不知，不過「銅蛇」之名應是來自其材質，因為נחש意即「蛇」、נחשת意為「黃銅」或「青銅」。

起源

以色利人從何珥山出發前往紅海，受到了挫折便開始抱怨耶和華和摩西，耶和華便降下火蛇懲罰以色列人，後者向摩西求救，最終受耶和華之旨，摩西建造了一條掛在杆子上銅蛇，凡看到這條蛇的人都得到了救贖。^[8]祭祀典上則說摩西是用「銅蛇」治療以色列人的火蛇咬傷的。^[8]

毀滅

列王紀下有提到一條以色列人設立的銅蛇。^[9]馬索拉版本說「他（希西家王）稱它作Nehushtan」。根據楊氏直譯本，Nehushtan的意思為「一塊黃銅」。^[10]凱倫·倫道伕·瓊斯（Karen Randolph Joines）認為Nehushtan不是以色列人的常用詞語，而是希西家對這個銅蛇的特稱。^[11]

當希西家成為國王後便將這條蛇銷毀了，^[12]希西家王銷毀銅蛇的原因是「因為到那時以色列人仍向銅蛇燒香」，且將此事件放在「希西家行耶和華眼中看為正的事」之後，視為當時宗教改革的一部份。

在基督教中的重要性

“

摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇，人子也必照樣被舉起來，叫一切信他的都得永生

”

——約翰福音 3:14–15

出現在民數記中的這條銅蛇因後來又被耶穌（約翰福音）使用而更加出名，當耶穌和尼哥底母^[13]討論他的命運時曾引用了摩西五經中的一段文字，將人子與這條銅蛇做了直接的比較。司布真聲稱在此耶穌提及了他未來的苦難。^[14]

參見

參考文獻

具體引用

[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" （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）; 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]. （原始內容存檔於2011-06-10）.
[8]
Numbers 21:4–9
[9]
Noth 1968，第156頁
[10]
2 Kings 18:4
[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頁
[14]
C. H. Spurgeon, "The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent" 互聯網檔案館的存檔，存檔日期2013-02-12., 1857

書籍

此條目包含現處於公共領域的出版物中的內容：Kaufmann Kohler, Isaac Husik, Morris Jastrow Jr., J. Frederic McCurdy. Brazen serpent. Singer, Isidore; et al (編). 猶太百科全書. 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. 請檢查|date=中的日期值 (幫助)

外部連結

Jewish Encyclopedia, s.v. "Nehushtan" （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）
Naassian （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）". The Mystica.
The Bronze Serpent: Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:9-15 （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）

[1] [1]
2 Kings 18:4

[2] [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" （頁面存檔備份，存於互聯網檔案館）; 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] [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] [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] [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] [6]
Callaway and Toombs to Joiner (Joiner 1968:246 note 5).

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

[#1-8] [8]
Numbers 21:4–9

[Noth,_156-9] [9]
Noth 1968，第156頁

[10] [10]
2 Kings 18:4

[JOBL,_87-11] [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] [12]
"The Mystery of the Nechushtan", Hershel Shanks, Biblical Archaeology Review, pp.58-63, March/April 2007.

[13] [13]
Olson 1996，第137頁

[14] [14]
C. H. Spurgeon, "The Mysteries of the Brazen Serpent" 互聯網檔案館的存檔，存檔日期2013-02-12., 1857

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