According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, Moses was the one who devised the plan to rid the city of the snakes. It all hinged on the clever use of... storks. Yes, you heard that right.
Moses instructed everyone to raise young storks. Think about that for a moment. Everyone in the community, nurturing these awkward, gangly birds. It's a beautiful image, isn't it? But here’s where it gets interesting. Once the storks reached adulthood, Moses ordered them to be starved for three days. Harsh, I know.
Then came the big day. The king, following Moses' instructions to the letter, commanded his people to don their armor, gird their swords, mount their horses, and each take their stork. Can you picture the scene? A whole army, ready for battle, each soldier with a hungry stork perched on his hand.
They marched towards the city afflicted by the serpents. And then, the king gave the signal: "Let each man send forth his young stork, to descend upon the serpents."
And they did.
The storks, driven by hunger, swooped down upon the serpents. They devoured them, every single one. Imagine the relief, the sheer joy as the people watched the birds obliterate the source of their terror. With the serpents gone, the army turned its attention to the city itself. They fought, they subdued it, and, incredibly, they killed all its inhabitants. But here's the real kicker: not a single person from the besieging army died!
It’s an amazing story, isn’t it? A testament to the power of innovative thinking, and perhaps a little bit of divine intervention. It leaves you wondering, what “serpents” are we facing today, and what unexpected “storks” might we use to overcome them? Sometimes, the solution is closer than we think, just waiting for the right moment to take flight.