2 Kings 18:4 – Is there any archaeological or historical evidence that the Nehushtan ever existed?

1. Identification and Biblical References

2 Kings 18:4 states, “He removed the high places, shattered the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for until then the Israelites had been burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.”

This “bronze snake” (נְחֻשְׁתָּן, Nehushtan) originated in the wilderness period (Numbers 21:8–9). Moses fashioned this serpent on the instruction of God to serve as a means of divine deliverance for those bitten by venomous snakes. By the time of King Hezekiah, however, it had become an object of idolatrous veneration. In response, Hezekiah destroyed it.

2. Old Testament Context of the Bronze Serpent

In Numbers 21:8–9, God commanded Moses to “Make a fiery serpent and mount it on a pole,” promising that anyone bitten who looked upon it would live. This event is set in the period of Israel’s desert wanderings, solidifying the serpent’s function as a symbol of God’s healing power.

Over centuries, this serpent was preserved. Second Kings 18:4 specifies that the people had begun burning incense to it—twisting the symbol from an aid to faith into an idol. This event occurred during the reign of Hezekiah, an era historically dated to the late eighth century BC. The biblical text implies that the bronze serpent had remained intact for hundreds of years before Hezekiah destroyed it.

3. The Historical Backdrop of Hezekiah’s Reforms

Hezekiah’s reforms are corroborated by multiple passages in the Hebrew Scriptures (e.g., 2 Chronicles 31) and by external sources referencing Hezekiah as a real historical figure (e.g., the Sennacherib Prism). The King’s efforts were aimed at reconsolidating the purity of worship in Judah. Breaking the Nehushtan, along with removing high places and idols, exemplified how thoroughly Hezekiah aimed to restore exclusive devotion.

4. Mention in Extra-Biblical Writings

A potential hint toward the existence of this artifact can be found in the writings of the first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (Antiquities of the Jews, Book 9, Chapter 1). While Josephus does not provide archaeological data pinpointing the serpent’s remnants, his reference underscores that he, and likely his contemporaries, regarded the biblical narrative of the bronze serpent (and its eventual destruction) as historical.

5. Overview of Archaeological Evidence

No specific artifact has ever been unearthed and definitively identified as the original Nehushtan. Several factors contribute to this lack of direct evidence:

• The artifact’s Purposeful Destruction: The text itself says Hezekiah “broke [it] into pieces,” suggesting it was thoroughly destroyed. Once something is deliberately torn apart, the chance of recovering it intact is minimal.

• Scant Surviving Metal Artifacts: Metal items are often melted down or repurposed in ancient societies. Bronze in particular was valuable and could have been reused for other implements.

• Idolatry Context: Objects known to have idolatrous associations were often subjected to complete obliteration to prevent reuse.

6. Corroborative Artifacts and Historical Markers

Although direct remnants of the Nehushtan have not been discovered, multiple archaeological finds lend credibility to the general reliability of the biblical historical framework surrounding Hezekiah’s era:

1. The Siloam Inscription: Discovered in Hezekiah’s Tunnel in Jerusalem, this inscription celebrates the completion of the water tunnel that the Bible attributes to Hezekiah’s efforts (2 Kings 20:20). This discovery confirms Hezekiah’s significant building projects.

2. The Annals of Sennacherib (Prism): These contain cuneiform records of the Assyrian king Sennacherib’s campaign against Judah, also recorded in the Bible (2 Kings 18–19). Such texts demonstrate that Hezekiah was a verified historical figure who enacted major reforms.

3. Bullae and Seals Mentioning Hezekiah: Archaeological excavations have unearthed impressions of royal seals bearing the name of Hezekiah, adding to the corpus of evidence supporting the biblical narratives tied to his kingship.

7. The Rationale for Destroying the Nehushtan

Hezekiah’s motivating principle was a return to proper worship. Despite its original use for healing (Numbers 21), the serpent had become an idol: “the Israelites had been burning incense to it” (2 Kings 18:4). This transformation from symbol to stumbling block necessitated its destruction. In theological terms, this resonates with prohibitions against graven images (Exodus 20:4–5) and underscores the central biblical theme that ultimate worship belongs to the Creator alone.

8. Significance of the Nehushtan in Later Interpretations

Later Jewish and Christian writings view the Nehushtan both as a historical instrument through which God displayed His power and as a cautionary example of how even good symbols can be corrupted. Early Christian interpreters sometimes connected it typologically to the crucifixion (cf. John 3:14), though that teaching concerns the principle of looking with faith to God’s deliverance, rather than preserving an actual physical relic.

9. Conclusion

While no direct archaeological fragment of the Nehushtan has been found, the biblical text’s internal consistency, Josephus’s testimony, and corroborating archaeological discoveries related to Hezekiah’s reign collectively support the historicity of the broader events described in 2 Kings 18:4. The lack of a surviving artifact is fully consistent with the account that the serpent was deliberately and thoroughly destroyed to eradicate idolatry.

Hezekiah’s reforms are well attested by multiple archaeological and historical markers, reinforcing the reliability of the biblical record that mentions the Nehushtan. Though no physical Remnant of the serpent remains, the scriptural account provides a consistent historical narrative of its existence, purpose, and ultimate destruction.