>>512825971
Meh, that one is more symbolic of the tradition of metallurgy that the hebrews had to re-learn in order to survive in the wilderness. They would build large fires without forges and it would burn them, hence the "burning bite" of the snakes, which could only be cured by constructing a forge, which would "cure" them since it would stop the sparks from flying up and nipping them. The reason that a serpent was chosen as a symbol is because it represents an unbroken lineage of blacksmithing knowledge that would be passed down from generation to generation. The Nehushtan was eventually destroyed at a much later date in the Bible, which represents the jew king having to put down some uppity blacksmith unions demanding better working conditions.

There is a similar Norse myth where Loki takes the form of a fly and burns the hands of dwarven blacksmiths, Loki being heavily associated with fire and the forge.