The Four Kingdoms Foretold in the Weapons of Esau

Another interpretation: "Take up your weapons" (Genesis 27:3). This is Babylon, as it is written, "And he brought the vessels," and so forth (Daniel 1:2). "Your quiver": this is Media, as it is written, "And they hanged Haman." "Your bow": this is Greece, as it is written, "For I have bent Judah for Me as a bow... and I have stirred up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece" (Zechariah 9:13). "And go out to the field": this is Edom, as it is written, "to the land of Seir, the field of Edom." "And make me savory food such as I love" (Genesis 27:4). He said to him: At first I took pleasure from sight, but now I take pleasure only from taste. And so Solomon says, "When goods increase, those who eat them increase" (Ecclesiastes 5:10). The one who sees an empty basket and is hungry is not like the one who sees a full basket and is satisfied. "And Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to Esau" (Genesis 27:5), "to hunt game and to bring it": if he found it, good; and if not, to bring from what is stolen and from what is seized by violence. "And now, my son, hear... go now to the flock" (Genesis 27:8-9). Go and meet first the nation that is likened to a flock, "And you, My flock, the flock of My pasture" (Ezekiel 34:31). "And take me from there two kids of the goats." If you find them, good; and if not, bring me from my marriage settlement, for so he had written for her, that he would supply her two kids every day. "Good kids of the goats": good for you, good for your sons. Good for you, for through them you take the blessings. Good for your sons, for through them atonement is made for them, as it is written, "For on this day He shall atone for you" (Leviticus 16:30). "Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man" (Genesis 27:11): a man of demons, as you say, "And hairy goat-demons shall dance there" (Isaiah 13:21). "And I am a smooth man," as you say, "For the LORD's portion is His people" (Deuteronomy 32:9). Rabbi Levi said: like a man with thick hair and a bald man standing at the edge of the threshing floor. The chaff blew onto the hairy one and tangled in his hair; the chaff blew onto the bald one, and he put his hand on his head and brushed it off. So the wicked Esau is soiled all year and has nothing by which to be atoned for, but Jacob comes to the Day of Atonement and is cleansed, as you say, "For on this day He shall atone for you" (Leviticus 16:30).