09 — Person: Hezekiah

Number: 09

Person: Hezekiah

Action: Breaking the bronze serpent (destroying Nehushtan)

Object: Bronze serpent

Scripture connection: 2 Kings 18:4 — He removed the high places, broke the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah, and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made (Nehushtan); the people had been offering incense to it.

Memory hook: Tet = snake, basket — the snake that had been lifted for healing (Numbers 21) became an idol. Hezekiah crushes it; nine is the number of the serpent destroyed so that only the LORD is worshiped.

Why this number? 9 maps to Tet (ט) — snake, basket. Hezekiah broke the bronze serpent (Nehushtan) so that the people would not worship it (2 Kings 18:4). One king, one act of reform — the snake (Tet) destroyed.