Snake

Snake (נָחָשׁ, A.V. "serpent"), a creature found in Palestine (Robinson saw some there six feet long [Bibl. Res. 2, 154]), but still more abundantly in the neighboring countries, especially Egypt (Ammian. Marcell. 22, 15; p. 324 ed. Bip.) and Arabia (Herod. 2, 75; 3, 109; Aelian, Anim. 2, 38; Strabo, 16, 759, 778; Diod. Sic. 3, 47; Agatharc. in Phot. Cod. 250, p. 1376; comp. Nu 21:6 sq.; Isa 30:6; see Prosp. Alpin. Rer. AEgypt. 4, 4; Burckhardt, Trav. 2, 814; Tischendorf, Reise, 1, 261; Russell, Aleppo, 2, 120 sq.; Schubert, 3, 120; Forskal, Descr. Anim. p. 13 sq.); sometimes in the deserts, frequently of poisonous species. They belonged to unclean animals according to the Mosaic classification (Le 11:10,41 sq.). The scientific investigation of the different species in the East is not sufficiently accurate to enable us to determine with any certainty the various kinds mentioned in Scripture. SEE SERPENT.