Esau Blocks the Burial Cave and Falls to Chushim or to Judah

When they reached the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came and held them up. He said: Mamre, Kiriath Arba (the city of four), there are four couples - Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. He buried Leah in his own place; this one that remains is mine. They said to him: you sold it. He said to them: granted that I sold my birthright, did I sell my ordinary portion? They said: yes, for it is written, "in my grave which I dug (karithi) for myself" - and kirah means nothing but selling. He said to them: give me the deed. They said to him: the deed is in the land of Egypt. And who shall go? Let Naphtali go, for he is swift, as it is written, "Naphtali is a hind let loose, who gives goodly words (imrei shafer)" (Genesis 49:21). Do not read imrei shafer but imrei sefer [words of the document]. Chushim the son of Dan was there, and his ears were heavy [he was hard of hearing]. He said to them: what is this? They said to him: this one is holding us up until Naphtali comes from the land of Egypt. He said: until the deed comes from Egypt shall my grandfather lie in disgrace? He took a club and struck him on his head; his eyes fell out and dropped at Jacob's feet. Jacob opened his eyes and smiled. This is what is written, "The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked" (Psalms 58:11). At that hour the prophecy of Rebekah was fulfilled, as it is written, "Why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?" (Genesis 27:45). Some say Judah killed Esau. When? At the time our father Isaac died, and Jacob and Esau and all the tribes went to bury him, as it is written, "And Esau and Jacob his sons buried him." They were all standing in the cave weeping, and the tribes stood giving honor to Jacob. They went outside the cave so that Jacob would not weep and be shamed before them. Esau began to enter the cave. Judah looked and saw that Esau had entered after him. He said: perhaps he means to kill my father inside. He entered and found Esau seeking to kill his father. Immediately he rose and killed him from behind. This is why his father blessed him, "Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies" (Genesis 49:8). And why did he not kill him to his face? Because his features resembled his own; therefore he gave him honor and killed him from behind. And why did he bless him at the neck? How much did Joshua struggle before the Holy One, blessed be He, that He give him the neck, and He did not give it. From where do we know? For so he says, "Oh Lord, what shall I say, after Israel has turned their backs (neck) before their enemies" (Joshua 7:8). Even so it availed him nothing. And to whom did He give the neck? To the tribe of Judah, as it is said, "Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies." And so David says, "You have given me the necks of my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:41). David said: it is my boot, as it is said, "And this for Judah" (Deuteronomy 33:7). From whom do you learn it? From Goliath, as it is said, "And the stone sank into his forehead and he fell upon his face" - it should have said he fell backward, but the angel pushed him onto his face, to fulfill what is said, "You have given me the necks of my enemies." And had not Joseph his brother busied himself with him, would the others not have busied themselves with him? Is it not written, "And his sons carried him to the land of Canaan"? They said: leave his honor to be done by kings rather than by commoners. "And his sons did for him" (it is written in hint 685).