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Easy-to-Read Version

2 Kings 18:4

Hezekiah destroyed the high places. He broke the memorial stones and cut down the Asherah poles. At that time the Israelites burned incense to the bronze snake made by Moses. This bronze snake was called "Nehushtan." Hezekiah broke this bronze snake into pieces.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Brazen Serpent;   Groves;   Hezekiah;   High Places;   Iconoclasm;   Idolatry;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Nehushtan;   Religion;   Revivals;   Scofield Reference Index - Times of the Gentiles;   Thompson Chain Reference - Awakenings and Religious Reforms;   Brazen Serpent;   False;   Groves;   Hezekiah;   High Places;   Iconoclasm;   Idolatry;   Places;   Serpent, Brazen;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Brass, or Copper;   Groves;   High Places;   Kings;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Brazen Serpent;   Eliakim;   Nehushtan;   Sennacherib;   Temple;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Ahaz;   Baal;   Hezekiah;   Idol, idolatry;   Judah, tribe and kingdom;   King;   Snake;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - King, Kingship;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Brass;   Hezekiah;   Nehushtan;   Serpent, Fiery;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Baal (1);   Grove;   Hezekiah;   High Places;   Idol;   Nehushtan;   Pentateuch;   Seraphim;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Asherah;   Bronze Serpent;   High Place;   Idol;   Kings, 1 and 2;   Nehushtan;   Pilgrimage;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Asherah;   Hezekiah;   Idolatry;   Isaiah, Book of;   Israel;   Philistines;   Rab-Shakeh;   Serpent, Brazen;   Text, Versions, and Languages of Ot;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Serpent;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Nehushtan ;   Serpent of Brass;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Hezekiah;   Nehushtan;   Serpent;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Hezekiah;   Kehushtan;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Nehush'tan;   Serpent;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Rove;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Nimrod;   Serpent, Brazen;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Deuteronomy;   Hezekiah (2);   High Place;   Images;   Isaiah;   King;   Nehushtan;   Serpent;   Serpent Worship;   Temple;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Anthropomorphism;   Brazen Serpent;   Copper;   Metals;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made, for until then the Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.
Hebrew Names Version
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moshe had made; for to those days the children of Yisra'el did burn incense to it; and he called it Nechushtan.
King James Version
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
English Standard Version
He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).
New Century Version
He removed the places where gods were worshiped. He smashed the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah idols. Also the Israelites had been burning incense to Nehushtan, the bronze snake Moses had made. But Hezekiah broke it into pieces.
New English Translation
He eliminated the high places, smashed the sacred pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah pole. He also demolished the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been offering incense to it; it was called Nehushtan.
Amplified Bible
He removed the high places [of pagan worship], broke down the images (memorial stones) and cut down the Asherim. He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the Israelites had burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan [a bronze sculpture].
New American Standard Bible
He removed the high places and smashed the memorial stones to pieces, and cut down the Asherah. He also crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel had been burning incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
World English Bible
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
Geneva Bible (1587)
He tooke away the hie places, and brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for vnto those dayes the children of Israel did burne incense to it, and hee called it Nehushtan.
Legacy Standard Bible
He took away the high places and shattered the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel were burning incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
Berean Standard Bible
He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.
Contemporary English Version
He destroyed the local shrines, then tore down the images of foreign gods and cut down the sacred pole for worshiping the goddess Asherah. He also smashed the bronze snake Moses had made. The people had named it Nehushtan and had been offering sacrifices to it.
Complete Jewish Bible
He removed the high places, smashed the standing-stones, cut down the asherah and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moshe had made; because in those days the people of Isra'el were making offerings to it, calling it N'chushtan.*
Darby Translation
He removed the high places, and broke the columns, and cut down the Asherahs, and broke in pieces the serpent of brass that Moses had made; for to those days the children of Israel burned incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
George Lamsa Translation
He removed the high places and broke the images and cut down the idols and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for the children of Israel had gone astray after it, and until those days they did burn incense to it; and they called it Nehushtan.
Good News Translation
He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor.
Lexham English Bible
He removed the high places, and he smashed the stone pillars; he cut down the poles of Asherah worship and demolished the bronze serpent which Moses had made, for up to those days the Israelites were offering incense to it and called it Nehushtan.
Literal Translation
he took away the high places, and broke in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Asherah, and beat to bits the bronze serpent that Moses made (for in those days it was that the sons of Israel burned sacrifices to it) and called it Nehushtan.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He put awaye the hye places, and brake downe the pilers, & roted out the groues, and brake the brasen serpente which Moses had made. For vnto that tyme had the children of Israel brent incese vnto it. And it was called Nehusthan.
American Standard Version
He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
Bible in Basic English
He had the high places taken away, and the stone pillars broken to bits, and the Asherah cut down; and the brass snake which Moses had made was crushed to powder at his order, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He put away the high places, & brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and all to brake the brasen serpent that Moyses had made: For vnto those dayes the children of Israel dyd burne sacrifice to it: and he called it Nehustan.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah; and he broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did offer to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
King James Version (1611)
He remooued the high places, and brake the images, and cut downe the groues, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for vnto those dayes the children of Israel did burne incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
He removed the high places, and broke in pieces the pillars, and utterly destroyed the groves, and the brazen serpent which Moses made: because until those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Neesthan.
English Revised Version
He removed the high places, and brake the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: And he brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he distriede hiye places, and al to-brak ymagis, and kittide doun wodis, and he brak the brasun serpent, whom Moyses hadde maad; for `til to that tyme the sones of Israel brenten encense to it; and he clepide the name therof Noestam.
Young's Literal Translation
he hath turned aside the high places, and broken in pieces the standing-pillars, and cut down the shrine, and beaten down the brazen serpent that Moses made, for unto these days were the sons of Israel making perfume to it, and he calleth it `a piece of brass.'
Update Bible Version
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah: and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for in those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and he called it Nehushtan.
Webster's Bible Translation
He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut down the groves, and broke in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made: for till those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
New King James Version
He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image [fn] and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. [fn]
New Living Translation
He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan.
New Life Bible
He took away the high places. He broke down the holy pillars used in worship and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the brass snake that Moses had made. For until those days the people of Israel burned special perfume to it. It was called Nehushtan.
New Revised Standard
He removed the high places, broke down the pillars, and cut down the sacred pole. He broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it; it was called Nehushtan.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He, removed the high places, and brake in pieces the pillars, and cut down the Sacred Stem, - and beat in pieces the serpent of bronze that, Moses, had made, because, until those days, had the sons of Israel been burning incense thereunto, so he called it Nehushtan.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He destroyed the high places, and broke the statues in pieces, and cut down the groves, and broke the brazen serpent, which Moses had made: for till that time the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and he called its name Nohestan.
Revised Standard Version
He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Ashe'rah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had burned incense to it; it was called Nehush'tan.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.

Contextual Overview

1 Hezekiah son of Ahaz was king of Judah. Hezekiah began to rule during the third year that Hoshea son of Elah was king of Israel. 2 Hezekiah was 25 years old when he began to rule. He ruled 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi, the daughter of Zechariah. 3 Hezekiah did what the Lord said was right, just as David his ancestor had done. 4 Hezekiah destroyed the high places. He broke the memorial stones and cut down the Asherah poles. At that time the Israelites burned incense to the bronze snake made by Moses. This bronze snake was called "Nehushtan." Hezekiah broke this bronze snake into pieces. 5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord , the God of Israel. There was no one like Hezekiah among all the kings of Judah before him or after him. 6 He was very faithful to the Lord and did not stop following him. He obeyed the commands that the Lord had given to Moses. 7 The Lord was with Hezekiah, so he was successful in everything he did. Hezekiah broke away from the king of Assyria and stopped serving him. 8 Hezekiah defeated the Philistines all the way to Gaza and the area around it. He defeated all the Philistine cities—from the smallest town to the largest city.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

removed: 2 Kings 12:3, 2 Kings 14:4, 2 Kings 15:4, 2 Kings 15:35, Leviticus 26:30, 1 Kings 3:2, 1 Kings 3:3, 1 Kings 15:14, 1 Kings 22:43, Psalms 78:58, Ezekiel 20:28, Ezekiel 20:29

brake: 2 Kings 23:4, Deuteronomy 7:5, Deuteronomy 12:2, Deuteronomy 12:3, Judges 6:25, Judges 6:28, 1 Kings 15:12, 1 Kings 15:13, 2 Chronicles 19:3, 2 Chronicles 31:1, 2 Chronicles 33:3

images: Heb. statues

the brazen serpent: Numbers 21:8, Numbers 21:9, John 3:14, John 3:15

unto those days: 2 Kings 16:15

Nehushtan: That is, a piece of brass.

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:13 - ye shall Leviticus 14:45 - break down 2 Kings 10:27 - brake down the image 2 Kings 11:18 - went 2 Kings 13:6 - and there remained 2 Kings 18:22 - whose high places 2 Kings 21:3 - the high places 2 Chronicles 14:3 - cut down 2 Chronicles 23:17 - the house of Baal 2 Chronicles 32:12 - Hath not 2 Chronicles 34:3 - General Isaiah 36:7 - is it not Hosea 11:12 - Judah

Cross-References

Genesis 18:5
I will get some food for you, and you can eat as much as you want. Then you can continue your journey." The three men said, "Do as you wish."
Genesis 18:15
Sarah said, "I didn't laugh!" (She said this because she was afraid.) Then the Lord said, "No, I know that is not true. You did laugh!"
Genesis 24:32
So Abraham's servant went into the house. Laban unloaded his camels and gave them straw and feed. Then he gave Abraham's servant water so that he and the men with him could wash their feet.
Genesis 43:24
The servant led the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. Then he fed their donkeys.
1 Samuel 25:41
Abigail bowed her face to the ground. She said, "I am willing to be your slave woman, even if it is only to wash the feet of my master's servants."
Luke 7:44
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet. But she washed my feet with her tears and dried my feet with her hair.
1 Timothy 5:10
She must be known for the good she has done: raising children, welcoming travelers into her home, serving the needs of God's people, helping those in trouble, and using her life to do all kinds of good.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He removed the high places,.... Which the best of the kings of Judah never attempted, and which is observed of them to their discredit:

and broke the images, and cut down the groves; the idols his father set up and served, 2 Kings 16:4, groves and idols in them, were early instances of idolatry; 2 Kings 16:4- :, and their use for temples are still continued, not only among some Indian nations l, but among some Christians in the northern parts of Europe m;

and brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; which he made in the wilderness, and which was brought by the children of Israel with them into the land of Canaan, and was kept as a memorial of the miracle wrought by looking to it, being laid up in some proper place where it had been preserved to this day:

for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it not from the time it was brought into Canaan, nor even in later times, in the days of Asa and Jehoshaphat, who would never have suffered it; very probably this piece of idolatry began in the times of Ahaz, who encouraged everything of that kind: for this serpent they had a great veneration, being made by Moses, and a means in his time of healing the Israelites; and they imagined it might be of some service to them, in a way of mediation to God; and worthy of worship, having some degree of divinity, as Kimchi and Ben Gersom; but Laniado n excuses them from all show of idolatry, and supposes what they did was for the honour of God only; hence sprung the heresy of the Ophites, according to Theodoret:

and he called it Nehushtan; perceiving they were ensnared by it, and drawn into idolatry to it, by way of contempt he called it by this name, which signifies "brass"; suggesting that it was only a mere piece of brass, had no divinity in it, and could be of no service to them in divine things; and, that it might no longer be a snare to them, he broke it into pieces; and, as the Jews o say, ground it to powder, and scattered it to every wind, that there might be no remains of it.

l See Dampier's Voyage, vol. 1. p. 411. m Vid. Fabritii Bibliograph. Antiqu. c. 9. sect. 11. n Cli Yaker, fol. 538. 2. o T. Bab. Avodah Zarah, fol. 44. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He removed the high places - This religious reformation was effected in a violent and tumultuous manner (marginal reference). The “high places,” though forbidden in the Law (Deuteronomy 12:2-4, Deuteronomy 12:11-14; compare Leviticus 26:30), had practically received the sanction of Samuel 1Sa 7:10; 1 Samuel 9:12-14, David 2 Samuel 15:32, Solomon 1 Kings 3:4, and others, and had long been the favorite resorts of the mass of the people (see 1 Kings 3:2 note). They were the rural centers for the worship of Yahweh, standing in the place of the later synagogue;, and had hitherto been winked at, or rather regarded as legitimate, even by the best kings. Hezekiah’s desecration of these time-honored sanctuaries must have been a rude shock to the feelings of numbers; and indications of the popular discontent may be traced in the appeal of Rab-shakeh 2 Kings 18:22, and in the strength of the reaction under Manasseh 2 Kings 21:2-9; 2 Chronicles 33:3-17.

The brasen serpent - See the marginal reference. Its history from the time when it was set up to the date of Hezekiah’s reformation is a blank. The present passage favors the supposition that it had been brought by Solomon from Gibeon and placed in the temple, for it implies a long continued worship of the serpent by the Israelites generally, and not a mere recent worship of it by the Jews.

And he called it Nehushtan - Rather, “And it was called Nehushtan.” The people called it, not “the serpent” נחשׁ nāchâsh, but “the brass,” or “the brass thing” נחשׁתן nechûshtān. Probably they did not like to call it “the serpent,” on account of the dark associations which were attached to that reptile (Genesis 3:1-15; Isaiah 27:1; Psalms 91:13; etc.).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Kings 18:4. Brake in pieces the brazen serpent. — The history of this may be seen in Numbers 21:8; Numbers 21:9; see the notes there.

We find that this brazen serpent had become an object of idolatry, and no doubt was supposed to possess, as a telesm or amulet, extraordinary virtues, and that incense was burnt before it which should have been burnt before the true God.

And he called it Nehushtan. — נהשתן. Not one of the versions has attempted to translate this word. Jarchi says, "He called it Nechustan, through contempt, which is as much as to say, a brazen serpent." Some have supposed that the word is compounded of נחש nachash, to divine, and תן tan, a serpent, so it signifies the divining serpent; and the Targum states that it was the people, not Hezekiah, that gave it this name. נחש nachash signifies to view, eye attentively, observe, to search, inquire accurately, c. and hence is used to express divination, augury. As a noun it signifies brass or copper, filth, verdigris, and some sea animal, Amos 9:3; see also Job 26:13, and Isaiah 26:1. It is also frequently used for a serpent; and most probably for an animal of the genus Simia, in Genesis 3:1, where see the notes. This has been contested by some, ridiculed by a few, and believed by many. The objectors, because it signifies a serpent sometimes, suppose it must have the same signification always! And one to express his contempt and show his sense, has said, "Did Moses hang up an ape on a pole?" I answer, No, no more than he hanged up you, who ask the contemptible question. But this is of a piece with the conduct of the people of Milan, who show you to this day the brazen serpent which Moses hung up in the wilderness, and which Hezekiah broke in pieces two thousand five hundred years ago!

Of serpents there is a great variety. Allowing that נחש nachash signifies a serpent, I may ask in my turn, What kind of a serpent was it that tempted Eve? Of what species was that which Moses hung up on the pole, and which Hezekiah broke to pieces? Who of the wise men can answer these questions? Till this is done I assert, that the word, Genesis 3:1, c., does not signify a serpent of any kind and that with a creature of the genus Simia the whole account best agrees.


 
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