Maghen Abraham - Thoughts From Mayer Sasson

“… you are cursed…and dust shall you eat all the days of your life.” (3, 14)

Lifting your eyes to Heaven

Our Sages say that by his being cursed to eat only dust, the serpent’s food is always available to him.” If he goes up to the roof – his food remains with him”. And our Sages say “If one sees a snake in a dream –(this is a sign that) his livelihood is available to him.”

What, then is the curse here?

The curse was in the fact that the serpent was distanced so much from holiness, to the point that he is prevented from ever lifting his eyes upwards to Heaven; other creatures who look for their food sometimes look to Heaven and ask for their food from G-d (as it says, “the young lions roar for their prey and ask G-d for their food”). The serpent’s voice is undesirable, as if, “Take what is yours and go away from me so that I don’t see you and don’t hear you again.”

(Chidushei Harim)

SHABBAT SHALOM!!