The LORDsentfieryserpentsamong the peopleand they bitthe people,so that manypeopleof Israeldied.
"Do not rejoice,O Philistia,allof you, Becausethe rodthat struckyou is broken;For from the serpent'sroota viperwill comeout, And its fruitwill be a flyingserpent.
The oracleconcerning the beastsof the Negev.Through a landof distressand anguish,From where[come] lionessand lion,viperand flyingserpent,They carrytheir richeson the backsof youngdonkeysAnd their treasureson camels'humps,To a peoplewho cannotprofit[them];
"For behold,I am sendingserpentsagainst you, Adders,for whichthereis nocharm,And they will biteyou," declaresthe LORD.
"IfI were to cause wildbeaststo passthrough the landand they depopulatedit, and it becamedesolatesothat noonewould passthroughit becauseof the beasts,
Norlet us trythe Lord,as someof them did,and were destroyedby the serpents.
"He ledyou through the greatand terriblewilderness,[with its] fieryserpentsand scorpionsand thirstygroundwheretherewas nowater;He broughtwaterfor you out of the rockof flint.
