In a previous article, I delved deeply into the mysteries of Genesis 3:14, offering numerous inquiries and even proffering some fairly audacious conjectures, not all of which proved to be substantially sound. With the application of more time, contemplative prayer, detailed research, and meticulous, intensive reading, several of these conjectures were deservedly consigned to the "I-missed-the-mark" category. Nonetheless, a small number persist. What this entire exercise ultimately culminates in is a teaching moment- ensure you don't allow Ancient Near East (ANE) studies to leapfrog stages prematurely. Maintain composure. Study the text with diligence. Avoid getting presumptuously ahead of a firm understanding. Practice patience and caution in your scholarly journeys.
The LORD God said to the serpent,
“Because you have done this,
cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field;
on your belly you shall go,
and dust you shall eat
all the days of your life.
Mistakes
The intriguing presumption that fallen sons of God, along with their Nephilim progeny, could have been livestock and beasts was presumptuous, particularly given its prematurity and spatially distant context. I found myself grappling with the question - why? What elements in this scenario caused a diversion from the intended course? To understand this requires backing up in Genesis to see both livestock and beasts being created (Genesis 2:19-20).
19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
Upon rigorous scrutiny and close and careful reading, it continually solidified that these entities were anything but "condemned". Additionally, the chronology seemed inordinately misaligned. The plummeted God-offspring - the Watchers, and the giants, known as Nephilim, wouldn't set foot on Earth until much later, at least another 400 years, originating from Mount Hermon. The linkage was lacking in logical consistency. Therefore, another interpretation needed to be sought.
Key word: Cursed
Rethinking Genesis 3:14 compelled in me a need to inspect the verse within the lenses of both Hebrew and Septuagint Greek. It was also obligatory to enhance my comprehension of the term "cursed" (אָרַר or אָר֤וּר ’ā·rūr) translation. Coming from this process, the Divine declaration took on an enigmatic veil. Specifically, God, in an artful play of words, proclaimed the serpent to (in His eyes) be lower in the hierarchy of creation, even beneath the humble dirt-formed created beings: domesticated animals (e.g., "livestock") and the beasts of the wild (e.g., "beasts of the field"). This made much better sense. However, it didn't mean everything was up in flames from my original post.
Belly crawling, Eating dust, and Days of living
The episode narrating the serpent's immediate future which proceeds to detail his doomed existence on his stomach, requires our careful attention.
With an ample understanding of biblical theophany, we're able to discern that the serpent is actually more than what a literal reading may suggest. The entity is an apostate member of the divine assembly, a 'Watcher'. The title 'Nechash' referring to 'Deceiver', is aptly befitting and symbolically represents his role.
Primarily, it sheds light on his chosen strategy; that of cunning deception. In this context, Eve becomes the embodiment of the target of his deceptive maneuvers. So, his actions were strictly aimed at ensnaring Eve effectively, as opposed to being an amphibious, talking snake with impressive upper and lower limbs.
Thus, the knack to accurately perceive the story presented in the scripture is based on encoding such metaphoric language and unpacking the ancient near eastern worldview meanings. After all, interpreting scripture involves much more than a literal engagement with the text.
The act of belly-crawling serves as more than just an identifier of serpentine behavior. It is also often used to illustrate the abject conditions endured by those who found themselves vanquished in a conflict, including sovereign figures. Notably, when subjected to the rule of a triumphant king, these vanquished individuals were compelled to tangibly communicate their newfound subservience. In this context, the act of prostrating themselves, shifting along on their fronts, wasn't merely symbolic but a physical manifestation of their diminished status and the dominance of the victorious monarch. Such a vivid representation of power dynamics carries significant implications beyond just the serpentine imagery we might initially associate with it.
Let's now address this concept of consuming dust. Yes, it's a given that serpents and men who crawl on their bellies will inevitably ingest some soil, but is this the primary point that Moses was trying to articulate during his recitation of God's proclamation to the serpent? It seems to me that Moses was elucidating a far more profound narrative.
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
My perspective remains steadfast that we can discern a significant correlation of thoughts in this instance. Specifically, the metaphorical interpretation of 'devouring' as fundamentally equivalent to actions such as attacking, assaulting, and perpetrating harassment. Furthermore, I contend that 'dust' symbolically represents humanity. When viewed through the specific lens of Genesis 3:14, my understanding of God's intent crystallizes to suggest that the Nachash would be perpetually engaged in activities similar to those alluded to by Peter: relentlessly pursuing individuals with the goal to attack, assault, and harass.
In conclusion, we are presented with the concept of "days of your life" or "existence", positioned eloquently in the final part of this scriptural passage. This generates the suggestion that if we understand the chronology of God's historical landmark to be "a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day", a hidden meaning begins to surface; a connection between the chronology of Ages and the role, objective, and undertakings of this entity throughout the whole of history, where it is subjected to a trial of loyalty towards God. Reflecting on this, it is seemingly apparent that this entity is being prepared to function as God’s main Satanic entity (tester) interacting with both His celestial creations and earthly inhabitants as a tool of testing our loyalties within the boundaries of the Ages where the testing is taking place.
Wrapup
Questioning is advantageous! Likewise, it is beneficial to take a breather, ponder, rigorously scrutinize the details, and do it all in a disposition of prayer. Also, it's crucial not to employ the Ancient Near Eastern worldview as a hammer looking for nails to pound!
In this particular instance, we have successfully contested my theories attempting to establish connections between livestock, beasts, and the fallen Watchers and giants. Such a claim overshoots the mark, to put it mildly. A more fitting interpretation, and one more in line with the biblical worldview, is to see this fallen angelic entity occupying a significantly low rank within the divine hierarchy of God's creation!
Yet, it does appear that we can hold on to the Ancient Near Eastern depictions of a belly-crawling, human harassing existence, and the narratives that pertain to the subsequent time left for the humiliated serpent entity (until judgment day). The correlation aligns snugly with our interpretation of history as a platform for examining the loyalties of free-willed beings from both celestial and terrestrial realms.
NOTES
The graphic displayed at the top of this piece serves a specific purpose. It encapsulates what a significant part of the Ancient Near East (ANE), Divine Council Worldview (DCW), and the Deuteronomy 32 paradigms entail in elementary terms. In an attempt to simplify, we can liken them to the early twentieth-century characters of Snidely Whiplash, Nell, and Dudley Do-right, typically depicting the villain, the innocent, and the hero. Similarly, a serpent aptly represents Snidely Whiplash, insinuating chaos and malevolence, immediately recognizable to someone from the ANE.
This article has delineated possible exaggerations when these perspectives are applied indiscriminately to certain parts of the scripture. However, dismissing the notion that these ancient worldviews, particularly for their original context, can contribute to a richer understanding of the theological doctrines embedded in scripture is unwise. We must remember that the Bible is fundamentally a theological work, not a historical or scientific account.