Rabbi Elazar ben Pedat said: Just as the Holy One blessed be He brought upon the Egyptians, so He is destined to bring upon Tzor,18This is the kingdom of Edom, the wicked Roman Empire, which is called Tzor because it oppressed [tzar] the Jews. as it is stated: “When the report reaches Egypt, they will tremble at the report of Tzor” (Isaiah 23:5).19It is interpreted homiletically: Just as when they heard the report of Egypt, so too they will tremble when they hear the report of Tzor.
Rabbi Elazar said: Every mention of Tzor in the Bible that is deficient20It is missing the vav. is referring to the wicked kingdom. Every Tzor that is plene21It is written with the vav. is referring to the city of Tyre. Egypt was afflicted with blood; here too, “its streams will be turned into pitch” (Isaiah 34:9).22The prophecy is regarding Edom. “It will not be extinguished night and day” (Isaiah 34:10), because they caused Israel to be idle from the Torah, of which it is written: “You shall contemplate it day and night” (Joshua 1:8); therefore, the Holy One blessed be He will exact retribution against it with a fire that will never be extinguished, day or night.
And because they burned the house of the Holy One blessed be He, about which it is written: “The house was filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:4); therefore, “its smoke will rise [forever]” (Isaiah 34:10). Likewise it says: “An uproar from the city, a sound from the Sanctuary, the sound of the Lord paying retribution to His enemies” (Isaiah 66:6). Because of the “uproar from the city, a sound from the Sanctuary,” as it is stated: “They have made a noise in the house of the Lord, as a day of solemn assembly” (Lamentations 2:7); therefore, [they will be subject to] “the sound of the Lord paying retribution to His enemies.”