“Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother, to the land of Se’ir, the field of Edom” (Genesis 32:4). “Jacob sent messengers before him” – Rabbi Pinḥas in the name of Rabbi Reuven began: “Arise, Lord, confront him and subdue him. Rescue me from the wicked with Your sword” (Psalms 17:13) – Rabbi Pinḥas said: Five times in the book of Psalms, David calls for the Holy One blessed be He to arise: “Arise, Lord; save me, my God” (Psalms 3:8); “Arise, Lord, in Your anger” (Psalms 7:7); “Arise, Lord God, raise Your hand.
Do not forget” (Psalms 10:12); “Arise, Lord; let man not be arrogant” (Psalms 9:20); “Arise, Lord, confront him” (Psalms 17:13). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘David, my son, even if you call for Me to rise many times, I will not rise. When will I rise? It is when the poor are robbed and the indigent are groaning.’
That is what is written: “Because of the robbery of the poor and the groans of the indigent [now I will arise]” (Psalms 12:6). Rabbi Yona said: “Now I will arise” (Psalms 12:6) – as long as it is wallowing in the ashes, as it were….1The Holy One blessed be He is, as it were, also wallowing in the ashes. Rather, when [comes] the day in whose regard it is written: “Shake the dust from you, arise and sit, Jerusalem” (Isaiah 52:2), at that moment: “Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord” (Zechariah 2:17).
Why? “For He is roused from His abode of sanctity” (Zechariah 2:17). Rabbi Aḥa said: Like this rooster that moves itself from the ashes. “Confront him [kadma panav]” (Psalms 17:13) – give the wicked early, before he comes to greet You. 2Give him his reward in this world, and repay him for his evil before he comes before You to repent.
“Subdue him [hakhri’ehu]” (Psalms 17:13) – tip the scales to condemn him [hakhriḥehu] and break him, just as it says: “They dropped to their knees [kare’u] and fell…” (Psalms 20:9). “Deliver me from the wicked with Your sword” (Psalms 17:13) – deliver my soul from that wicked one3Esau. who comes by the power of that sword, as it is stated: “By your sword you shall live” (Genesis 27:40). Alternatively, deliver my soul from that wicked one,4Rome, descendants of Esau. who is Your sword through whom You subjugate the world.
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Deliver my soul from that wicked one who is destined to fall by your sword. That is what is written: “For My sword is sated in Heaven; [behold, it will descend upon Edom]” (Isaiah 34:5) – the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘He was going on his way, and then you are sending to him and saying: “So said your servant, Jacob”’ (Genesis 32:5).5Had you not sent to him, Esau would have continued on his way to Edom.