HEALING AND HISSING SNAKES – LISTENING TO NUMBERS 21:4-9 | Zendy

Victor Avigdor Hurowitz | Zendy

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HEALING AND HISSING SNAKES – LISTENING TO NUMBERS 21:4-9

Author(s) -

Victor Avigdor Hurowitz

Publication year - 2013

Publication title -

scriptura

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

eISSN - 2305-445X

pISSN - 0254-1807

DOI - 10.7833/87-0-965

Subject(s) - magic (telescope) , literature , narrative , incantation , bronze , active listening , history , repetition (rhetorical device) , psychology , communication , linguistics , art , philosophy , ancient history , physics , quantum mechanics

The magical elements of the well-known account of the snake infestation and itsremedy by a bronze serpent (Num 21:4-9) have been discussed often in commentariesand individual studies. This article directs attention to aural elements of thisstory including aural-sympathetic magic, repetition of key words in multiples oftypological numbers, onomatopoeic use of snake sounding sibilants, interdialacticalword plays, and narrative statements resembling ancient medical prescriptions incontent and formulation. These elements, if not merely dramatic embellishments,may indicate that this etiological story served as an incantation for invoking thehealing powers of Nehushtan.

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