Abstract
Intertextuality as an approach to biblical studies has received considerable attention and varied responses. Because the foundation of the enterprise is the almost limitless potential in interrelated texts, the complexity both of definition and of process is daunting. At the same time, the pursuit through this complexity yields a renewed appreciation for the richness of the biblical text in its wider cultural contexts. Tracking the serpent through the wealth of intertextual connections in the Hebrew Bible illustrates the ongoing infusion of ideas and development of interconnections. The approach does not presume the loss of the authoritative Center but acknowledges that divine Authorship does not preclude a plurality of voices as the canonical text is produced and interpreted.
