Esau Wraps Himself Like a Lion Beside Jacob Before His Fall

And Sisera, who blasphemed — for it is written of him, "And he oppressed the children of Israel with might" (Judges 4:3), that is, with revilings and with blasphemies — therefore he was judged by fire, as it is said, "From the heavens the stars fought; from their courses they fought with Sisera" (Judges 5:20). And in the world to come, when the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to exact punishment from Esau — what did Esau do? He wraps himself in his prayer-shawl like a lion, and comes and seats himself beside Jacob, as it is said, "Look now toward the heavens and count the stars [… so shall your seed be]" (Genesis 15:5). And Jacob says to him: My brother, you shall not be like me, as it is said, "My brother, your words are death; my brother, your destruction is Sheol" (Hosea 13:14). The decrees that you were decreeing against me — you were decreeing against me that I should serve idolatry. Had I done so, I would have been liable to death at the hands of Heaven; and had I not served, you would have killed me. Therefore, "My brother, your words are death; my brother, your destruction (qetev) is Sheol" — in the language of "Hellenisti." When Esau goes down to Sheol, Jacob remains by himself, as it is said, "And it shall come to pass throughout all the land, says the LORD, that two parts in it [shall be cut off and die, but the third shall be left therein]" (Zechariah 13:8). And "the third" is none other than Israel, as it is said, "Israel shall be a third, etc." (Isaiah 19:24). And Israel — because they made themselves despised and lowly — are comforted with fire, as it is said, "And I will be to her, says the LORD, a wall of fire round about, and I will be for glory in her midst" (Zechariah 2:9). When Esau departs from the world, the Holy One, blessed be He, [and Israel remain, as it is said, "One alone is my dove, my perfect one" (Song of Songs 6:9), and it says,] "The LORD alone did lead him, and there was no foreign god with Him" (Deuteronomy 32:12).