Antoninus, the Replanted Radishes, and Esau Living by the Sword

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 115:22

Another interpretation of "Behold, of the fat places of the earth": from the rich places of the land. Antoninus sent to our Rabbi, saying: because the treasury is empty, what shall we do to fill it? He took the messenger and brought him into a garden, uprooted the large radishes and planted small ones, large beets and planted small ones. He said: give me your written reply. He gave him none. The messenger went in to Antoninus, who asked: what did he say to you? He said: he told me nothing. He asked: and did he do nothing before you? He said: he brought me into a garden and began uprooting large radishes and planting small ones, large beets and planting small ones. Antoninus understood: he began dismissing the dukes and installing new governors until the treasury was filled. (Genesis 27:40) "And by your sword shall you live." Rabbi Levi said: take your sword and you shall live. "And you shall serve your brother": if he is worthy you shall serve him, and if not he shall serve you. "And it shall be when you grow restless": you have your courts and he has his courts; you have your customs and he has his customs. If you see Jacob your brother throwing off the yoke of Torah, decree persecutions against him and you shall rule over him. This is the meaning of (Isaiah 63:16), "For You are our Father, for Abraham did not know us and Israel did not recognize us." And where is Isaac? Israel said: the one who tells Esau to decree persecutions, You join him to the fathers.

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