The voice thereof shall go like a serpent
That is, the voice of Egypt, before compared to a heifer, when in
its glory; but now it shall not bellow like a heifer in fat
pasture, bat hiss like a serpent, when drove out of its hole, and
pursued; signifying, that their voice should be low and
submissive, and should not speak one big or murmuring word to
their conquerors. The voice of the serpent is, by Aristotle
F13 said to be small and weak; so
Aelianus F14. Though Jarchi, Kimchi, and
Abarbinel, understand it of the voice of serpents heard afar off;
and so it may respect the dreadful lamentation the Egyptians
should make, when they should see the Chaldeans come upon them to
destroy them; just as serpents in woods make a horrible noise,
when they are set on fire, or are cut down, to which there is an
allusion in some following clauses. The Targum seems to interpret
this of the Chaldean army thus,
``the voice of the clashing of their arms as serpents creeping;''and of them the following words are certainly meant: for they shall march with an army;