King Shabur and the Serpent of the Wilderness of Shur

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beshalach 17:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of (Exodus 15:22): "Then Moses had Israel journey from the Reed Sea, and they went out into the Wilderness of Shur." Our Rabbis said: The Wilderness of Shur was eight hundred parasangs by eight hundred parasangs, and it was full of serpents and scorpions and wild beasts. Rabbi Yose said: There were serpents there like the beams of an olive-press, and scorpions the size of a span. And thus it says (Deuteronomy 8:15): "Who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with fiery serpents and scorpions, etc." There is a story concerning King Shabur, who was passing through there. The first caravan passed by, and the serpent swallowed it. A second passed by, and it swallowed it. A third, and it swallowed it. And the king sat distressed. The scholars were there with him. They said to him: Why are you standing idle? Bring ten mighty men. So he brought them. They said to him: Let them fill serodot — that is, sacks — with straw. So they filled the sacks with straw and rolled them before it, and it swallowed them, until its belly was split open, and it was unable to stir. Then they rose and killed it. Thus (Deuteronomy 8:15): "Who led you, etc."

Themes

AnimalsAdam EveExodusSerpentKings

Biblical References

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