Why Abraham's Life Was Shortened So He Would Not See Esau Sin

(Deut. 25:17:) REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID TO YOU. This is what Scripture says (Ps. 109:14): LET THE INIQUITY OF HIS FATHERS BE REMEMBERED BEFORE THE LORD, etc. Now were the fathers of Esau wicked? Were they not righteous — Abraham his grandfather, Isaac his father? And yet you say, LET THE INIQUITY OF HIS FATHERS BE REMEMBERED? Rather, it refers to a sin that he sinned against his fathers. And how did he sin against his fathers? You find that Isaac came from the strength of Abraham, and he lived a hundred and eighty years, while Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Rabbi Levi said: Within the five years that were withheld from the life of Abraham, Esau committed two grave transgressions: he violated a betrothed maiden, and he killed a person. This is what is written (Gen. 25:29): AND ESAU CAME FROM THE FIELD, AND HE WAS WEARY. And "field" is nothing other than a betrothed maiden, [as it is said (Deut. 22:25): IF A MAN FINDS IN THE FIELD A BETROTHED MAIDEN]. And "weary" is nothing other than a slayer, as it is said (Jer. 4:31): WOE IS ME NOW, FOR MY SOUL IS WEARY BEFORE SLAYERS. Rabbi Zakkai [the Elder] said: He also stole, as it is said (Obad. 5): IF THIEVES CAME TO YOU. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I have already promised Abraham My beloved (Gen. 15:15): AND YOU SHALL COME TO YOUR FATHERS IN PEACE; YOU SHALL BE BURIED, etc.; and now he would see his grandson's son, who robs and plunders, uncovers nakedness, and sheds blood. This good old man — better for that righteous one to be gathered in peace, as it is said (Ps. 63:4): FOR YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE. And how did he sin against his father? He caused his eyes to grow dim during his lifetime. From here they said: Whoever raises a wicked son or a wicked disciple causes his eyes to grow dim during his lifetime. A wicked son — from Isaac, as it is written (Gen. 27:1): AND HIS EYES WERE TOO DIM TO SEE, [because he raised Esau the wicked]. A wicked disciple — from Ahijah the Shilonite, as it is said (1 Kings 14:4): AND AHIJAH COULD NOT SEE, FOR HIS EYES WERE SET BY REASON OF HIS AGE, because he raised Jeroboam, ever wicked. [(Ps. 109:14): AND LET NOT THE SIN OF HIS MOTHER BE BLOTTED OUT.] And how did he sin against his mother? Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Nehemiah and the Rabbis. Rabbi Judah says: When he came forth from his mother's womb, he cut her uterus (that is, the afterbirth), so that she would not give birth again. This is what is written (Amos 1:11): FOR HE PURSUED HIS BROTHER WITH THE SWORD AND DESTROYED HIS WOMB. And Rabbi Berekhiah says: Do not say it was when he came forth; rather, as he was coming forth from his mother's womb his fist (that is, his clenched hand) was stretched out against him. What is the reason? (Ps. 58:4): THE WICKED ARE ESTRANGED FROM THE WOMB. Rabbi Nehemiah says: He caused her not to raise up twelve tribes. For Rav Huna said: Rebekah was fit to raise up twelve tribes, as it is said (Gen. 25:23): AND THE LORD SAID TO HER, TWO NATIONS [ARE IN YOUR WOMB] — that is two; AND TWO PEOPLES — that is four; AND ONE PEOPLE SHALL BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER PEOPLE — that is six; AND THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER — that is eight; AND BEHOLD, THERE WERE TWINS IN HER WOMB — that is ten; AND THE FIRST CAME OUT RUDDY — [that is eleven]; AND AFTER THAT CAME OUT HIS BROTHER — that is twelve. And there are those who derive it from here (Gen. 25:22): AND SHE SAID, IF SO, WHY AM I THUS (ZeH)? "ZeH" in gematria is twelve. And the Rabbis said: He caused her bier not to go forth among the multitude. You find that when Rebekah died, they said: Who shall go forth before her? Abraham is dead; Isaac's eyes are dim and he sits in the house; Jacob has gone to Paddan-aram. Shall Esau the wicked go forth before her, and the people say: Cursed be the breasts that suckled such a one as this (that is, "Woe to the breasts that nursed one like this")? What did they do? They brought out her bier at night. Rabbi Yose bar Hanina said: Because they brought out her bier at night, Scripture only explained it obliquely, as it is written (Gen. 35:8): AND DEBORAH, REBEKAH'S NURSE, DIED, etc., [AND ITS NAME WAS CALLED ALLON-BACUTH]. What is "Allon-bacuth"? Two weepings. While Jacob sat observing the mourning of [her] nurse, the tidings of his mother came to him. This is what is written (Gen. 35:9): AND GOD APPEARED TO JACOB AGAIN [etc.] AND BLESSED HIM. With what blessing did He bless him? He blessed him with the blessing of mourners. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: His father repaid him with evil, his mother repaid him with evil, his brother repaid him with evil, his grandfather repaid him with evil, you repaid him with evil — and shall I repay him with evil? You mention his name below, and I blot out his name above. (Ps. 109:15): LET THEM BE BEFORE THE LORD CONTINUALLY. Whatever he did, he did against Me, as it is said (ibid.): THAT HE MAY CUT OFF THE MEMORY OF THEM FROM THE EARTH. [Hence] (Deut. 25:17): REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID TO YOU.