Since the serpent of Genesis 3 is identified in Revelation 12:9 as a dragon (seraph?), then going on its belly in the dust implies it has been stripped of *wings* not legs! Which deepens the symbolism of judgment.
Also, what do we make of all of this when Satan himself was a serpent/dragon, and serpentine imagery & descriptions seem so associated with evil and the enemies of God? Was he one of the seraphim before his fall?
And it’s interesting that Jesus said he saw Satan fall “like lightning,” which would perhaps coordinate with the fiery description.
But I think there are some connections between the serpent in the garden, Leviathan, the dragon in Rev 12, and so on.
That said, the serpent imagery does not = evil, since God uses a serpent to heal. Jesus himself claims the sign of the Saraph in John 3: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
Yeah I was going to mention the similarity with Leviathan, mentioned I think 3 times in the OT but more often in Ugaritic writings and often the chaotic sea Dragon with wings
Just that the serpent condemned to crawl on his belly and be at enmity, etc.. as cursed has similarly to creatures of pure praise and bearers of God’s justice. Though beautiful, only snake lovers do not recall the association of their creepiness. Their flying is kind of wild reveal. That’s what I meant by ambivalence about serpentine quality
Interesting observation. I am not sure Satan falls into the species of Cherub, but Ezekiel 28 may describe him as a garden cherub because he functioned as one (protector of the garden)—until he famously didn’t. Cherubs are likely chimeras, whose partial purpose is to guard divine spaces.
This may be an artifact of the Documentary Hypothesis and assumptions about 8th century religious literature, but I always assumed they used the bronze serpent as Nehushtan because they basically knew nothing of Moses or Sinai anymore and only knew the bronze serpent as a talisman-like warder-off of snakes.
Well, assuming the mosaic Nehushtan is in the temple, then for sure people offered to it for apotropaic purposes, likely being ignorant of the whole story. That seems to be what Kings tells us, especially when we get to Josiah.
Fascinating, as usual, but a bit disturbing to this imagination. The serpent inhabited to bring on all our woe [Genesis] is also same family as the praisers and agents of God's judgement. Unsettling, but as God's word provides, one must abide. Still kind of ....unsettling.
Although these seals may owe more to Egyptian influences and the prevalent idolatry of ancient Israel, the fact that winged serpents appear in Hebrew iconography at the time lends further credence to your argument.
Yes, thank you! I had thought of including such (probably) apotropaic serpentine objects, but I didn't want to expand the article too much. It's common, I think, across many places in the ANE.
Or perhaps what we would call a dragon.
See the curse of the serpent about crawling on its belly (loss of legs).
So the unfallen may have both arms and legs and wings.
Or what would look like what we imagine a dragon to be.
Since the serpent of Genesis 3 is identified in Revelation 12:9 as a dragon (seraph?), then going on its belly in the dust implies it has been stripped of *wings* not legs! Which deepens the symbolism of judgment.
Good point!
Also, what do we make of all of this when Satan himself was a serpent/dragon, and serpentine imagery & descriptions seem so associated with evil and the enemies of God? Was he one of the seraphim before his fall?
And it’s interesting that Jesus said he saw Satan fall “like lightning,” which would perhaps coordinate with the fiery description.
I'll likely write on that next or soon.
But I think there are some connections between the serpent in the garden, Leviathan, the dragon in Rev 12, and so on.
That said, the serpent imagery does not = evil, since God uses a serpent to heal. Jesus himself claims the sign of the Saraph in John 3: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
Yeah I was going to mention the similarity with Leviathan, mentioned I think 3 times in the OT but more often in Ugaritic writings and often the chaotic sea Dragon with wings
confusing but true to the Biblical usage. That bronze serpent has always caused me some mild consternation.
What part of it causes "mild consternation"?
I meant to type, wild reverse to our first impression in Scipture
Just that the serpent condemned to crawl on his belly and be at enmity, etc.. as cursed has similarly to creatures of pure praise and bearers of God’s justice. Though beautiful, only snake lovers do not recall the association of their creepiness. Their flying is kind of wild reveal. That’s what I meant by ambivalence about serpentine quality
Great article! I’ve always heard that satan was a cherub but now I wonder if he was actually a seraph
Interesting observation. I am not sure Satan falls into the species of Cherub, but Ezekiel 28 may describe him as a garden cherub because he functioned as one (protector of the garden)—until he famously didn’t. Cherubs are likely chimeras, whose partial purpose is to guard divine spaces.
Wow that’s fascinating. You’re making me want to look more into the angels now
Perhaps when Moses’ bronze serpent was installed as a cult image, it was fitted with wings?
Perhaps! But in Numbers, the fiery-serpents don't fly. So I kind of doubt it. But it can be fun to speculate a bit here!
This may be an artifact of the Documentary Hypothesis and assumptions about 8th century religious literature, but I always assumed they used the bronze serpent as Nehushtan because they basically knew nothing of Moses or Sinai anymore and only knew the bronze serpent as a talisman-like warder-off of snakes.
Well, assuming the mosaic Nehushtan is in the temple, then for sure people offered to it for apotropaic purposes, likely being ignorant of the whole story. That seems to be what Kings tells us, especially when we get to Josiah.
Fascinating, as usual, but a bit disturbing to this imagination. The serpent inhabited to bring on all our woe [Genesis] is also same family as the praisers and agents of God's judgement. Unsettling, but as God's word provides, one must abide. Still kind of ....unsettling.
Although these seals may owe more to Egyptian influences and the prevalent idolatry of ancient Israel, the fact that winged serpents appear in Hebrew iconography at the time lends further credence to your argument.
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Left-four-winged-uraeus-at-the-top-of-a-tri-registral-Hebrew-seal-also-note-the_fig5_336532849
https://www.bridgemanimages.com/en-US/noartistknown/seal-inscribed-in-hebrew-and-decorated-with-a-winged-snake-judea-8th-century-bc/photo/asset/3288392
Yes, thank you! I had thought of including such (probably) apotropaic serpentine objects, but I didn't want to expand the article too much. It's common, I think, across many places in the ANE.
Is your class online or in person?
Online