Why the Nations Refused the Torah at Sinai, Seir, and Paran

(Deut. 33:2:) "AND HE SAID, THE LORD CAME FROM SINAI," etc. This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought the Torah around to the nations of the world, and they did not accept it, until He came to Israel, and they accepted it. As it is stated (ibid.): "AND DAWNED UPON THEM FROM SEIR" — these are the children of Esau, who are the children of Seir. "HE SHONE FORTH FROM MOUNT PARAN" (ibid.) — these are the children of Ishmael, as it is stated, "And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran" (Gen. 21:21). And it is written, "He stood and measured the earth; He looked and made nations leap" (Hab. 3:6) — for He saw that they did not wish to accept the Torah, and He made them leap into Gehinnom, just as it says, "to leap with them upon the earth" (Lev. 11:21). And in another place it says, "All the kings of the earth shall give You thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of Your mouth" (Ps. 138:4). Yet we still need to say: perhaps they wished to listen. Micah the Morashtite came and settled the matter, as it is stated, "And in anger and in wrath I will execute vengeance upon the nations that have not listened" (Mic. 5:14). Behold, you have learned that they did not wish to accept the Torah. David came and gave thanks to the Holy One, blessed be He, over this, as it is stated, "You are the God who works wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples" (Ps. 77:15). David said: Master of the Universe, the wonders You have done in Your world, that You made Your Torah known to the nations of the world! "Your strength" is nothing but Torah, as it is stated, "The Lord will give strength to His people" (Ps. 29:11). Rabbi Abbahu said: It was revealed and known before the One who spoke and the world came into being that the nations of the world would not accept the Torah. And why then did He approach them? Rather, such are the measures of the Holy One, blessed be He: He fulfills His obligation toward His creatures, and afterward drives them from the world, because the Holy One, blessed be He, does not come upon His creatures with tyranny. [A second measure — why did He approach them? Because of the appeasement of the patriarchs.]