brought them such riches. Moses, however, said, "Do you really
believe that the sea will continue to yield you pearls and jewels?"
[74]

From the sea they passed to the desert Shur, a horrible and
dreadful wilderness, full of snakes, lizards, and scorpions,
extending over hundreds of miles. So deadly is the nature of the
snakes that dwell in the desert, that if one of them merely glides
over the shadow of a flying bird, the bird falls into pieces. [75] It
was in this desert that the following happened to King Shapor: A
cohort that he sent through this desert was swallowed by a snake,
and the same fate overtook a second and a third cohort. Upon the
advice of his sages, he then filled the hides of animals with hot
coals wrapped in straw, and had these cast before the snake until it
expired. [76]

It was then a proof of Israel's great faith in their God, that they
obeyed Moses, and without murmur or delay followed him into
this frightful wilderness. [77] Therefore did God reward them for
their trust in Him, for not only were they not harmed by the snakes
and scorpions during their many years stay in the desert, but they
were even relieved of the fear of the reptiles, for as soon as the
snakes saw the Israelites, they meekly lay down upon the sand.
[78] For three days they marched through the desert,
uncomplaining, but when their supply of water gave out, the
people murmured against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"
While crossing through the Red Sea they had provided themselves
with water, for, miraculously, the sea flowed sweet for them; and
now when the supply was becoming exhausted, they began to give
expression to their dissatisfaction. On this occasion they again