Rabbi Tanḥum said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: In the future, the Holy One blessed be He will give the nations to drink from the cup of terror,21Drinking from the cup of terror is a metaphor for divine punishment (Isaiah 51:17, 51:22). from the place from which justice [hadin] emerges. What is the source? “A river emerged from Eden [eden] to water the garden; and from there it parted” – “and became four rivers” is not written here, but rather, “and became four headwaters [rashim]”22Rashim can also mean rulers. – these are the four kingdoms,23That would ultimately subjugate Israel (see Daniel chapters 2 and 7).
They are: Babylon, Persia-Media, Greece, and Rome-Edom. which correspond to the four headwaters. “The name of the one is Pishon” – this refers to Babylon, after: “Its horsemen come from afar [pashu]” (Habakkuk 1:8). “It is that which encircles the entire land of Ḥavila” – as it [Babylon] rose and encircled the entire Land of Israel, in whose regard it is written: “Have hope [hoḥili] in God, for I will yet thank Him” (Psalms 42:6).
“Where the gold is” – this refers to the words of Torah, which “are more desirable than gold, than quantities of fine gold” (Psalms 19:11). “And the gold of that land is good” – this teaches that there is no Torah like the Torah of the Land of Israel, and no wisdom like the wisdom of the Land of Israel. “Bdellium is there, and onyx stone…” – [referring to] Bible, Mishna, Talmud, Tosefta, and agadda.24All these branches of Torah wisdom are to be found in the Land of Israel.
“And the name of the second river is Giḥon” – this refers to Media, as Haman would decimate its people like a serpent, after: “Upon your belly [geḥonekha] you shall go” (Genesis 3:14). “Tigris [Ḥidekel] [it is that which goes east of Ashur]” – this refers to Greece, which was quick [kala] and harsh [ḥada] in its edicts, as it would say to Israel: ‘Write for yourselves on the horn of an ox that you have no share in the God of Israel.’
Rav Huna said: In three areas, the kingdom of Greece takes precedence over [they surpass] the Evil Empire:25Rome. This is expounding on “it is that which goes east [kidmat] of Ashur,” which can also mean “it is that which takes precedence over Ashur.” Ashur here refers to Rome, as the Midrash goes on to explain. In its legal system, in its script, and in its language.
Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Aḥa: All the kingdoms may be called after Ashur26See Isaiah 27:13, Zechariah 10:10. because they enrich themselves [mitasherot] through Israel. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina said: All the kingdoms may be called after Nineveh27See Nahum 1:1. The prophecy in that chapter is relevant to all the nations, not just Nineveh. because they adorn themselves [mitnaot] through Israel.
Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥalafta said: All the nations are called after Egypt [Mitzrayim]28See Isaiah 27:13. because they distress [metzirot] Israel. “The fourth river is Euphrates [Perat]” – this refers to Edom. Perat – because it voided [hefera]29It voided the treaty between the brothers, Jacob and Esau. The Romans are considered the descendants of Esau-Edom. and distressed his [Jacob’s] descendants.
Perat – because it brings fertility [para] and abundance, due to the blessing of the elder [Isaac].30Isaac gave Esau (Edom) a blessing of fertility for the land (Genesis 27:39). Perat – because in the future I will exact retribution [lehipara] against it. Perat – after its demise: “I alone have trodden the winepress [pura]…” (Isaiah 63:3).31This passage (Isaiah 63:1–6) refers to Edom.