Esau Lost in Darkness While Jacob Walks in God's Light

Another interpretation of (I Samuel 2:9): "He guards the feet of His pious ones." This is Jacob, who went out to travel to Haran, for thus the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him (Genesis 28:15): "And behold, I am with you." "But the wicked are silenced in darkness" (I Samuel 2:9) — this is Esau, of whom it is said (Job 20:26): "All darkness is hidden away for his treasured ones, etc." (Obadiah 1:18): "And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, etc., and the house of Esau for stubble." When Esau went out to pursue after Jacob, at the tenth hour, the Holy One, blessed be He, covered over the day and made it evening, as it is said (Genesis 28:11): "And he encountered the place, etc." And Esau stood in darkness and did not know where he was going, as it is said (I Samuel 2:9): "But the wicked are silenced in darkness." Why? "For not by strength shall a man prevail" (I Samuel 2:9). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Do you perhaps suppose yourself to be mighty? And also in the time to come, thus He acts for Israel, as it is said (Psalms 97:11): "Light is sown for the righteous," and it says (Proverbs 4:18): "And the light of the righteous is like the radiant light, etc." And if you are astonished, it has already been done in this world, as it is said (Exodus 10:23): "They did not see one another."