The Near Stranger Better Than the Distant Brother

This is what the verse says: "Better is a near neighbor than a distant brother" (Proverbs 27:10). Jethro was good, who was far off and drew near to Me, and rejoiced at the redemption of Israel, as it is said, "And Jethro rejoiced" (Exodus 18:9) — better than the wicked Esau, who was a brother and grew distant and rejoiced at Israel's trouble, as it is said, "Do not gaze on the day of your brother, on the day of his calamity, and do not rejoice over the children of Judah" (Obadiah 1:12). And one good thing was [true of] Abimelech king of the Philistines, who showed much honor to Abraham, as it is said, "Behold, my land is before you" (Genesis 20:15) — better than Abimelech son of Jerubbaal, who killed his brothers. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abimelech [son of Jerubbaal]: Wicked one, you killed seventy men on one stone; you too — "And a certain woman threw an upper millstone" (Judges 9:53). And Solomon said: "He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him" (Proverbs 26:27). I wrote in My Torah, "The fear of the LORD adds days" (Proverbs 10:27), and you killed your brothers; by your life, I will shorten the years of that man — therefore he reigned only three years.