“The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.”
An oracle concerning the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of trouble and anguish, from which come the lioness and the lion, the viper and the flying serpent, they carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys and their treasures on the backs of camels, to a people who cannot profit them, establishing that the difficult journey to Egypt through dangerous territory carrying gifts and treasure will prove futile because Egypt cannot provide the hoped-for aid. The beasts of the Negev—lions and vipers—represent the hazards of the desert journey. The carrying of riches and treasures suggests the gifts offered to secure Egyptian support. Yet the oracle asserts that Egypt cannot profit them, suggesting the futility of the entire enterprise. The extended journey through danger to deliver treasure to a nation that cannot help represents the absurdity of the chosen course of action. The oracle emphasizes the waste and futility of the mission.
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