Renew Your Deeds and the Reckoning of the Four Kingdoms

Rabbi Berekhiah said in the name of Rabbi Yitzchak: "the month [ha-chodesh]" (Exodus 12:2) — renew [chadshu] your deeds, for there is still a head [rosh] and a first one [rishon] to come. "Head [rosh]" — this is the wicked Nebuchadnezzar, of whom it is written, "you are the head of gold" (Daniel 2:38). "First [rishon]" — this is the wicked Esau, of whom it is written, "and the first came out ruddy" (Genesis 25:25). Who exacts punishment for you from the head and the first? "I, the LORD, am first, and with the last I am He" (Isaiah 41:4). Who exacts punishment for you from Media? "On the tenth [be-asor]" (Exodus 12:3). Rabbi Avin said: the tenth came, "hang Haman and his ten sons" — who exacts punishment for you from them? Two officials, Mordecai and Esther, Mordecai from outside and Esther from inside. Who exacts punishment for you from Greece? The Hasmoneans, who offered up two daily offerings every day. Who exacts punishment for you from Edom? Watchfulness: "and it shall be a watch for you until the fourteenth day of the month" (Exodus 12:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: his father called him great, "and he called Esau his great son" (Genesis 27:1), and his mother called him great, "and Rebecca took the garments of Esau her great son" (Genesis 27:15), and I call him small, "behold, I have made you small among the nations" (Obadiah 1:2). Since they call him great, "for the ox to the slaughter" — "for the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom" (Isaiah 34:6). Rabbi Berekhiah said: a great slaughter in the land of Edom.