Nohestan

NOHESTAN. This is the Name which in the Time of Hezekiah King of Judah¹, was given to the Brazen Serpent, that Moses had set up in the Wilderness, and which had been preserved by the Israelites to this Time. The superstitious People having made an Idol of this Serpent, Hezekiah caused it to be burnt, and in Derision gave it the Name of Nobestan; as if he should say, this little brazen Serpent. For in Hebrew, Nabas, or Nachasch, signifies a Serpent, and that of Brass. Even to this Day, in the Church of St. Ambrose at Milan, they shew a brazen Serpent, which they pretend to be the very same that Moses set up in the Wilderness. But ‘tis very well known from the History of Hezekiah, that this was broke to Pieces in his Time. For the Brazen Serpent erected by Moses, see Serpent, and Punon, which is thought to be the Encampment where Moses set up the Brazen Serpent.

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