Numbers 21:1-358. The Eighth Murmuring-Because of Lack of Bread and Water (Numbers 21:1-35) The complaints of the people in this instance really arose from a loathing and dislike of the manna which God Himself had provided. The punishment for this murmuring was the sending of fiery serpents which bit the people and poisoned them so that many died. Moses again intercedes and is commanded to make a brazen serpent and put it on a pole. Whosoever looked at the serpent was healed of his disease. This brazen serpent was kept, as we know, for a memorial for a long time, and was finally destroyed by Hezekiah because the people began to worship it (2 Kings 18:4). The brazen serpent is a type of our Lord Jesus Christ who offered Himself for the world’ s sin (John 3:14-15).