Midrasch zu Bamidbar 21:8

(Fol. 29) MISHNAH: (Ex. 17, 11) And it came to pass when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, etc. Do then the hands of Moses cause war to be waged or to cease? But the passage means to teach this lesson: VThen the Israelites looked upward and pledged their hearts to their Father in heaven, they prevailed; but when they ceased to do so, they failed. We find a similar instance also in (Num. 21, 8) Make unto thee a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live. Could, then, the serpent kill or bring to life? But the passage means to teach this lesson: When the Israelites looked upward for aid and pledged their hearts to their Father in heaven, they were healed; but when they did not, they perished.

(Fol. 55) Samuel said again: "What does the passage (Num. 218). And from the wilderness of Mathanah to Nachaliel; and from Nachaliel to Bamoth, mean? This means that if a man make himself just as the wilderness upon which everybody treads, the Torah will be given to him as a gift. Since the Torah was given to him as a gift, the Torah will remain with him as an inheritance, as it is said and from Mathanah to Nachaliel. Since the Torah will remain with him as an inheritance, he will rise to distinction, as it is said and from Nachaliel to Bamoth. But if he exalt himself [with his learning] the Holy One, praised be He! will lower him, as it is said and from Bamoth to the valley; and if he reconsiders his conduct the Holy One, praised be He! will raise him again, as it is said (Is. 40, 4) Every valley shall be raised."

(Ibid. 11) "And it was, when Moses lifted his hand, that Israel prevailed, etc." Now do the hands of Moses strengthen Israel or break Amalek? Rather, whenever Moses lifted his hand heavenward, they gazed at it and affirmed their faith in Him who commanded Moses to do thus, and the Holy One Blessed be He wrought for them miracles and mighty acts. Similarly, (Numbers 21:8) "Make for yourself a saraf (a fiery serpent), etc." Now does a snake put to death or bring to life? Rather, whenever he did so, Israel would gaze at it and affirm their faith in Him who commanded Moses to do thus, and the Holy One Blessed be He wrought healings for them. Similarly, (Exodus 12:13) "And the blood shall be for you as a sign, etc." Now how can the blood affect an angel or Israel? Rather, when Israel did this and placed the blood on their doors, the Holy One Blessed be He pitied them, viz. (Ibid. 23) "And the L rd shall skip over the door." R. Eliezer says: What is the intent of "and Israel will grow strong" or "and Amalek will grow strong"? __ Whenever Moses would raise his hands heavenward, Israel strengthened themselves in words of Torah, which were destined to be given by his hands. And whenever he lowered his hands, Israel weakened in words of Torah, which were destined to be given by his hands.

23 (Numb. 21:7) “Then the people came unto Moses and said, ‘We have sinned’”: [They] knew that they had spoken against Moses, so they fell prostrate before him and said (ibid., cont.), “pray unto the Lord to remove [the serpent]⁷³The use of the singular here may be suggesting to midrashic interpreter that this was the same serpent that sinned in the Garden of Eden. from us….” There was one serpent. [(Ibid., cont.) “And he prayed”: The passage serves] to make Moses' humility known to you, in that he did not hesitate to seek mercy for them. And [it is also] to make the power of repentance known to you. As soon as they said, “We have sinned,” he was immediately reconciled to them. [The passage serves] to teach you that the one who forgives should not be cruel. And so too does it say (in Gen. 20:17), “Abraham then prayed to God, and God healed [Abimelech and his wife].” And so does it say (in Job 42:10), “The Lord restored Job’s fortunes when he prayed on behalf of his friends.” And where is it shown that if one has sinned against his companion and says to him, “I have sinned,” without [the companion] forgiving him, that [the unforgiving one] is called a sinner? Where it is stated (in I Sam. 12:23), “As for me also, far be it for me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray on your behalf.” When? When they came and said to him, “We have sinned,” [as stated] (in I Sam. 12:10), “and [they] said, ‘We have sinned […].’” And he answered, “Far be it from me to sin.” (Numb. 21:8), “And the Lord said unto Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, [and put it on a pole]; then it shall come to pass that, when anyone bitten [looks at it, he shall live],” not only one bitten by a serpent, but anyone bitten, even one bitten by an adder, by a scorpion, a wild beast, or a dog. (Numb. 21:9) “So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it up by a miracle”:⁷⁴Nes. The usual rendering would read: AND SET IT UP ON A POLE (nes). However, since nes can also mean “miracle,” the midrash is understanding it in the latter sense. He tossed it into the air and it remained there.

So Joshua did as Moses had said to him … and it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand (Exod. 17:10–11). Could the hand of Moses actually wage war or cause a war to cease? This indicates that whenever the Israelites glanced upward and directed their hearts to their Father in Heaven, they were strengthened, but if not, they were defeated. Similarly, And the Lord said unto Moses: “Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass that everyone that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live” (Num. 21:8). Can a serpent of bronze cause death or life? This, likewise, indicates that whenever the Israelites looked upwards and expressed their devotion to their Heavenly Father, they were healed, but if not, they were destroyed. Similarly, in the verse And the blood shall be to you for a token (Exod. 12:13), did the blood help the angel of destruction or the Israelites? The fact is that at the time the Israelites smeared blood upon their doorposts, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself and had pity upon them, as it is said: And when I see the blood, I will pass over you (ibid.) i.e., the angel of death will not be permitted to come to your homes to smite you.

(Numb. 21:8): AND THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES: MAKE A SERAPH, <AND PUT IT ON A POLE>. THEN IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT, WHEN ANYONE BITTEN <LOOKS AT IT, HE SHALL LIVE>, not only one bitten by a serpent, but ANYONE BITTEN, even one bitten by an adder, by a scorpion, a wild beast, or a dog.