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•SERPENT, FIERY (LXX. “deadly,” Vulg. “burning”), Numbers 21:6, probably the naja haje of Egypt; some swift-springing, deadly snake (Isaiah 14:29). After setting out from their encampment at Ezion-gaber, the Israelites entered on a wide sandy desert, which stretches from the mountains of Edom as far as the Persian Gulf. While traversing this region, the people began to murmur and utter loud complaints against Moses. As a punishment, the Lord sent serpents among them, and much people of Israel died. Moses interceded on their behalf, and by divine direction he made a “brazen serpent,” and raised it on a pole in the midst of the camp, and all the wounded Israelites who looked on it were at once healed. (Comp. John 3:14, 15.) (See ASP.) This “brazen serpent” was preserved by the Israelites till the days of Hezekiah, when it was destroyed (2 Kings 18:4). (See BRASS.)‌‌‌‌‌

•SERUG branch, the father of Nahor (Genesis 11:20-23); called Saruch in Luke 3:35.

•SERVITOR occurs only in 2 Kings 4:43, Authorized Version (R.V., “servant”). The Hebrew word there rendered “servitor” is elsewhere rendered “minister,” “servant” (Exodus 24:13; 33:11). Probably Gehazi, the personal attendant on Elisha, is here meant.

•SETH appointed; a substitute, the third son of Adam and Eve (Genesis 4:25; 5:3). His mother gave him this name, “for God,” said she, “hath appointed me [i.e., compensated me with] another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew.”

•SETHUR hidden, one of the spies sent to search the Promised Land. He was of the tribe of Asher (Numbers 13:13).

•SEVEN This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Genesis 2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number. This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also the symbol of rest. “Jacob’s seven years’ service to Laban; Pharaoh’s seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven priests who sounded them; the seven days’ siege of Jericho; the seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of this sacred number” (see

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