The Philistines should not rejoice prematurely in the destruction of the Assyrians because things are only going to get worse. The phrase, 'for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent' may be interpreted as follows. After the Assyrian empire (serpent's root) shall come another despot, Nabopolassar of Babylon (a cockatrice or poisonous snake), and his fruit (his son) shall be another poisonous snake (Nebuchadnezzar) which will also rule the nations. As he came against the Jews, Nebuchadnezzar also came against the Philistines as prophesied in verse 31, 'Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou whole Palestina, art dissolved; for there shall come from the north a smoke.'