{Neither let us tempt the Lord} (m(8864)e ekpeiraz(936d)en ton
Kurion). So the best MSS. instead of Christ. This compound
occurs in LXX and in N.T. always about Christ (here and  Mt 4:7  Lu 4:12  10:25 ). Let us cease sorely (ek-) tempting the Lord
by such conduct. {And perished by the serpents} (kai hupo t(936e)
ophe(936e) ap(936c)lunto). Vivid imperfect middle (cf. aorist middle
ap(936c)onto in verse  10 ), were perishing day by day. The story
is told in  Nu 21:6 . The use of hupo for agent with the
intransitive middle of apollumi is regular. Note the Ionic
uncontracted genitive plural ophe(936e) rather than oph(936e).