Question
I have heard a number of rabbis use the punishment of the serpent as an example of
how Hashem distances a sinner by giving
him all that he requires. When someone has
all that one requires, one has no need to connect
with Hashem. In this case the Rabbis say that
the snake eats dust, and dust is found everywhere.
I know that the Torah is accurate, and I also know
from studying biology and experience that there is
no snake whose food is dust - all snakes are carnivorous and hunters. My conclusion is therefore
that the Torah did not mean to say that the
snake’s food is dust, but since he crawls in the
dust, the dust mixes in his food - something which
is interpreted as disgusting in the human mind, and
can be understood as a fitting punishment. The rabbis’ message is good, but it seems that the serpent’s punishment is meant for different messages.
Answer
It may be that the midrash meant simply that the serpeants food is readily available, like the dust.
