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Nehushtan was a serpent cult object in the form of a snake on a pole, that was kept in the Jerusalem Temple. We have no modern depictions of Nehushtan because King Hezekiah destroyed the cult figure during the first, failed attempt to institute monotheism in the Kingdom of Judah, but similar objects were worshipped by the Canaanites. Its attribution to Moses was probably a late attempt to explain why an idol was kept in the Temple.

J. F. has written:

'Nehushtan, or, John Elliot's Saving grace in all men proved to be no grace and his increated being in all a great nothing' -- subject(s): Controversial literature, Society of Friends, Grace (Theology)

If we could go back in time to the Old Testament days, the most striking difference in the form of worship would be the sacrifice of animals that accompanied worship.

In pre-Exilic days, we might also see some worshipping the sun, or women weeping for the shepherd-god Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14-16). In earlier days we could see, in the Jerusalem Temple, a representation of the goddess Asherah, and the serpent-god, Nehushtan, but these were removed by King Josiah, who also removed the horses and the chariot of the sun god.

The bronze snake staff in the Bible is made of bronze because bronze was a common metal used in ancient times for its durability and malleability. Additionally, bronze was associated with healing properties in ancient beliefs, which may have influenced its selection for the staff to symbolize healing and protection.

Hezekiah was not at all successful in changing the Hebrew religion of polytheism to monotheism. What Hezekiah did need to do was call for national repentance and return to the 'God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob' the one true God who led the Israelites out of Egypt.