Why Each Enemy of Israel Mocked the Last One's Failed Plan

[Another interpretation:] "A righteous one knows" (Proverbs 12:10) — this is the Holy One, blessed be He, who said, "Whether an ox or a sheep, it and its offspring" (Leviticus 22:28). "But the compassion of the wicked is cruel" (Proverbs 12:10) — this is Haman, of whom it is written, "to destroy and to annihilate" (Esther 3:13). Rabbi Levi said: Woe to the wicked, for they devise deep plots against Israel, and each and every one of them says, "My plan is better than your plan." Esau said: Cain was a fool, who killed his brother Abel during his father's lifetime, and did not know that his father would be fruitful and multiply. I will not do so; rather, "Let the days of mourning for my father draw near, [and I will kill my brother Jacob]" (Genesis 27:41). Pharaoh said: Esau was a fool, who said, "Let the days of mourning for [my father] draw near," for he did not know that his brother would be fruitful and multiply during his father's lifetime. I will not do so; rather, while they are small, beneath their mothers' birthstool, I will strangle them, as it is written, "Every son that is born you shall cast into the river" (Exodus 1:22). Haman said: Pharaoh was a fool, who said, "Every son that is born [you shall cast into the river, but every daughter you shall let live]," for he did not know that the daughters marry men and are fruitful and multiply through them. I will not do so; rather, "to destroy, to slay, and to annihilate [all the Jews, from young to old, children and women, in a single day]" (Esther 3:13). Rabbi Levi said: Gog [and Magog] too is destined to say thus: The earlier ones were fools, who devised deep plots against Israel; they did not know that they have a patron in heaven. I will not do so. First I will engage their patron, and afterward I will engage them. This is what is written, "The kings of the earth take their stand, and rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed" (Psalms 2:2). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Wicked one, against Me have you come to do battle? By your life, I will wage war with you, as it is said, "The Lord goes forth like a warrior" (Isaiah 42:13), and it says, "Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle" (Zechariah 14:3).