Make thee a fiery serpent. — The single Hebrew word which is here employed is saraph (a seraph), or burning one, as in Numbers 21:6, where the word nehashim — serpents — occurs also. The meaning is explained in the following verse, in which it is said that Moses made “a serpent of brass.”
Set it upon a pole. — Better, a standard. The LXX. have σημεῖον, the Vulgate signum. The Hebrew word (nes) is the same which occurs in Exodus 17:15, “Jehovah-nissi” — i.e., Jehovah is my standard or banner.