In Judaism how literally is one to take a story such as this?

[superlessman]

This assertion is also found in Jewish legend,[3] that the serpent (Hebrew nahash ???) from the Garden of Eden was father to firstborn Cain.

 

[KaiDao]

That's Cobra Commander's lineage

 

[micheller]

Not at all literally. Midrash helps you understand the text, but it is still secondary to the text. And no less a rabbinic scholar than Rambam (Maimonides) taught that the beginning chapters of Genesis could be read allegorically - so much more so he folk tales.

 

[Nostromo]

Depends on the brand of Judaism.
Orthodox Jews will (likely) take this passage to be literal.
Reform Jews will (likely) take this passage to be metaphor.

 

[MarcP]

its about as literally true as the rest of it.