Numbers 21:4–9
4They traveled from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom, and the soul of the people was greatly discouraged because of the journey. 5The people spoke against God and Moses, saying, "Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, no water, and our soul loathes this light bread." 6So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people. The snakes bit them, and many Israelites died. 7The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Please pray to the LORD to take these snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8The LORD told Moses, "Make a snake and mount it on a pole. Anyone who has been bitten can look at it and live." 9So Moses made a bronze snake and mounted it on a pole. Whenever someone was bitten by a snake, they would look at the bronze snake and survive.