L-rd, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the region of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens poured, the clouds indeed poured water. (Judges 5:4)
Various nations have mistreated the Jewish people and caused great suffering. The Romans, who descended from Esau, tortured, and murdered millions of people, and exiled and enslaved countless more as they built their empire. They defiled holy places and destroyed communities. Like their forefather Esau, they were evil and cruel.
Throughout history, countries like Rome have prospered. Their armies are feared far and wide, and their statesmen, generals, artists, and scientists become world-famous — and all this even though they do not care a bit about the faith and beliefs of other people.
One may ask, “Why do such wicked nations enjoy such strength and power?”
A kind-hearted and wise king had a son whom he loved more than anything else in the world. The king assigned the best servants to look after him. Whenever the prince was hungry, he received wholesome, tasty meals; whenever he wanted to play, the servants gave him whatever games he fancied. The best tailors made him elegant, and warm clothes, and the most brilliant tutors made his studies enjoyable. In short, he was surrounded by a loving family and staff who were only too happy to fulfill his every wish.
Despite the wonderful care the prince received, he became so sick that even the most skilled doctors gave up hope of finding a cure. Famous doctors summoned to the palace from afar shook their heads and sadly told the king that his son would not live much longer.
Only one white-haired doctor thought there might be some hope.
“I shall try to cure your son,” he told the king, “But only if you promise me two things. First, you must not come near the prince while I am caring for him, because in your presence, I will not have the strength to make him take the bitter medicines he needs to save his life.
“Second, I want you to send away all the prince’s personal staff. Until now, he has been waited upon by good-hearted people who love him and generously do whatever they can to make him happy. Now you must find selfish and cruel staff to look after him—the meaner, the better. Only someone with a heart of stone can do the job.
“This person will have to force the prince to take his medicines — even though they are terribly bitter — and to undergo painful treatments. He will also have to stop the prince from eating the foods he likes, which keep the medicines from working. Anyone who loves the prince will take pity on him and will not do the job well enough to save his life. You must search throughout your kingdom for men of evil nature, choosing the fiercest, strictest ones to look after the prince until he recovers.”
With no other hope of saving his beloved son’s life, the king agreed. At once, he sent messengers to every corner of his kingdom to find hardhearted ruffians and bring them back to the palace.
The messengers returned with just the right type of people. Not only were they fierce-looking, but they were proud of it. They could not stop bragging about how the king had summoned them to the palace to cure the prince.
At last, one of the king’s ministers could no longer stand it, and hushed their boasting.
“Arrogant fools! Do you think it is because you are such fine upstanding individuals that the king has brought you here? Do not be so foolish! Right now, the king has no choice but to give you the job because the prince is so sick, and you are so nasty and cruel. You will not heed the boy’s pleas for mercy and will force him to take his medicines just as the doctor prescribed. It is because you are so mean and heartless that you are here, not because you are better than others. As soon as the prince is well again, the king will summarily dismiss you, as the ruffians that you are!”
Similarly, we find the prophet Obadiah addressing Edom, the nation of Esau:
I will surely make you least among the nations; you shall be utterly despised. Your proud heart has deceived you, you that live in the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is in the heights. You say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’” (Obadiah 1:2-3).
Sometimes people lapse in their faith and become “ill” – failing to live by the teachings of the Torah – Scriptures and our Father, the King, calls in the cruel sons of Esau to administer the treatments required to heal us. This is not a mark of distinction for Esau, but rather a way to make use of his cruelty and evil ways. Wicked nations mistakenly think that the Holy One, blessed be He, has deemed them superior to others. They fail to realize that their new status is temporary, that even if they seem to conquer the very heavens, in the end, they will fall, as the prophet continues: “Even if you rise high like the eagle, if you place your nest amongst the stars, from there I shall bring you down, says Hashem” (Obadiah 1:4).
When one sees Esau/Edom become a great power and conquer much of the world, one should remember that the Holy One, blessed be He is behind it all, arranging things for the benefit of the faithful. If people would return to living and studying the Holy Word with a true heart, the cruel taskmaster of Edom will be banished forever. Then people will be free to serve our Father in Heaven with happy hearts, amid peace and plenty.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)