Jacob Dwells Only After Esau Leaves the Land

(Genesis 37:1:) "And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings." This is what Scripture says (Deuteronomy 33:27): "The eternal God is a dwelling place." Rabbi Jeremiah said: We do not know whether the dwelling place is God or whether God is the dwelling place. When it says (Psalms 90:1), "A prayer of Moses, the man of God: O LORD, You have been a dwelling place for us," [behold, the Holy One, blessed be He, is the dwelling place of His world, and His world is not His place]. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, created His world, none but a righteous one dwelt in the land; and by their merit they sustain the world, as it is said (Deuteronomy 33:27, continued): "And underneath are the arms of the world." Come and see: that all the days the wicked are in the world, the righteous are not seen. And so you find that all the days Esau was in the land of Israel, Jacob was unable to appear. Esau departed, as it is said (Genesis 36:6): "And Esau took his wives, etc." Immediately, "And Jacob dwelt." Therefore (Deuteronomy 33:27, continued): "And He drove out the enemy from before you." At that hour (Deuteronomy 33:28): "And Israel dwelt in safety, alone."