Another matter, “you have circled…enough” – that is what the verse said: “Be silent before the Lord, vehitḥolel for Him…” (Psalms 37:7). What is “vehitḥolel for Him”? Place your hope in the Holy One blessed be He, like the matter that is stated: “Why, my soul, are you stooped over? …[Have hope [hoḥili] in God]” (Psalms 42:6). Another matter, “vehitḥolel for Him” – Rabbi Taḥlifa of Caesarea said: What is “vehitḥolel for Him”?
If suffering has befallen you, accept it with fear [beḥila]. “Do not contend with one who prospers” (Psalms 37:7) – this is Esau, in whose regard it is written: “Why is the way of the wicked successful?” (Jeremiah 12:1). “The man who is busy with intrigue” (Psalms 37:7) – this is Esau,46The reference is to Rome, who were identified by the Romans as descendants of Edom, and therefore of Esau. who judges people deceitfully.
How so? The judge of the empire would judge the murderer and say: ‘Why did you kill?’ [The accused] would say: ‘I did not kill him.’ [The judge] would ask him: ‘With what did you kill him, with a sword, a spear, or a dagger?’47The judge would not accept the claims of the defendant, and would continue to cross examine him as though he were guilty, and the defendant would be confused and say something incriminating even if he was innocent.
Another matter, “be silent before the Lord, vehitḥolel for Him” – Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When the enemies came to destroy Jerusalem, there were sixty myriads of angels of destruction, and they were standing at the entrance of the Sanctuary in order to strike them. They saw the Divine Presence looking and being silent – from where is this derived? As it is written: “He withdrew His right hand from being before the enemy” (Lamentations 2:3) – so they [the angels] also gave them [the enemies] space [allowing them to destroy Jerusalem].
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: He saw [Esau] destroying His home and was silent, and you wish to confront him? Even now, the reward for honoring his parents is owed him. “You have circled…enough” – what is “circled the mountain [hahar]”? Rabbi Ḥanina said: Esau circulated around this parent of his [horo], namely his father, who needed him to feed him.
From where is this derived? “Isaac loved Esau because of the game in his mouth” (Genesis 25:28). Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Gedalya said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I will pay his reward.’ When Jacob gave a gift to Esau, what did Esau say to him?
“I have plenty [rav]” (Genesis 33:9); do not exert yourself. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘With this expression, he honored [Jacob], with this expression, I will say to [the Israelites]: Turn away from him, “you have circled enough [rav].”’