Note 233 — Chapter III · THE EXODUS OUT OF EGYPT (continued 2)

Bronze serpents were regarded in Babylonia as divine protectors of a building, and were accordingly ‘set up’ at its entrance. Thus Nebuchadrezzar says of the walls of Babylon, ‘On the thresholds of the gates I set up mighty bulls of bronze and huge serpents that stood erect’ (W. A. I. i. 65, i. 19-21).