The Tale of the Copper Serpent | Parshat Chukat

The Tale of the Copper Serpent | Parshat Chukat

The copper serpent was fashioned at G-d’s behest.   We are not dealing here with standard devices (names, charms, incantations), but with special and unique means that resulted from a special revelation of G-d’s will.  It is not a matter of magical action, for the serpent was not a charm ( kamea), and it was not a permanent fixture; rather, it was something passing that reflected the will of G-d, in contrast to a “pagan magical action, which appears as if it were operating of its own force and has no need of a supreme force to put it in action.”