The Camel, Hare, Badger and Pig as the Four Kingdoms

"The camel, and the rock badger, and the hare, and the pig" (Leviticus 11:4-7). "The camel" (gamal) — this is the kingdom of Babylon, as it is said, "O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy is the one who repays you the recompense (gemul) that you recompensed (gamalt) to us" (Psalms 137:8). "The hare" (arnevet) — this is the kingdom of Media, as it is said, "And Haman sought to destroy" (Esther 3:6). "The rock badger" (shafan) — this is Greece, which brought low (hishpilah) the Torah from the mouth of the prophets. "And the pig" (chazir) — this is the wicked kingdom of Edom, as it is said, "The pig of the forest gnaws at it" (Psalms 80:14). Why is it likened to a pig? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to turn back (le-hachazir) upon it the measure of justice. How so? In the time to come the Holy One, blessed be He, sends out a herald: Whoever occupied himself with Torah, let him come and take his reward. And even the gentile nations say, "Give us our reward, for we too performed such-and-such a commandment." The Holy One, blessed be He, says: Whoever did not eat abhorrent creatures and creeping things, let him come and take his reward. At that hour they receive their verdict, as it is said, "Those who eat the flesh of the pig, and the abhorrent creature, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says the Lord" (Isaiah 66:17).