"And your eyes shall see" (Malachi 1:5). The prophet promises that Israel will watch the fall of Edom — watch it with their own eyes, from their own territory, and say: "Great is the Lord!" This is not a vision or a prophecy at a distance. It is a promise of witnessed redemption.
But the midrash makes a subtle move: the fall of Edom is not the point. It is the prelude to praise. The destruction of Israel's enemies is the condition for seeing God clearly, not the goal in itself. Malachi continues: "The Lord will be great beyond the borders of Israel" (Malachi 1:5). The nations will recognize it. Not because they were conquered but because they saw what they could not explain. The angel of Edom, the prince who had ruled over the nations for centuries, will have no answer when his kingdom collapses and the God he opposed is still standing.
The rabbis connected this to the Psalms of Ascent — "A song of ascents. I lift my eyes to the mountains" (Psalm 121:1) — because the ascent is both physical and spiritual. Israel ascending to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage festivals is Israel ascending in faith. To lift the eyes toward Jerusalem while Edom still stands is an act of insistence: we believe in what we cannot yet see. "Your eyes shall see" is the reward for refusing to look away.
Chapter (46) [47] of Prophets. [1] "Jacob fled to the land of Aram" (Hosea 12:13). This means "My people, enter your chambers and shut your doors" (Isaiah 26:20). Look within your heart and see that I have not brought suffering upon you according to your sins. Your inner chamber is your kidneys, as it says, "The light of God is the breath of man, searching all his innermost parts" (Proverbs 20:27). If suffering comes upon you, do not open your mouth and argue against divine justice. Rather, close your doors and remain silent, for "Hide yourself for a moment, until the wrath passes" (Isaiah 26:20). This is because suffering does not linger in the world; it passes, as it says, "Until anger passes by" (Isaiah 26:20). "My people, go within your chambers." When you see that difficult times are approaching, do not stand in their way, but give them space. "Go within your chambers" means, "Look to Me as if to say, 'I submit to Your will.'" When I saw that difficult times were approaching because of your sins, I gave them space, as it says, "He turned His right hand back" (Lamentations 2:3). So too, "My people, go within your chambers," means, "You too, go within your chambers and submit to My will," for anyone who stands against difficult times falls into their hands, as it says, "And they will testify against him, saying, 'Bless God and curse the people,' and they will take him outside the city and stone him to death" (1 Kings 21:13), because he stood against difficult times. But Abraham made room for the hour, and fled from Nimrod king of the Chaldeans, as it is said "Get yourself out of your country..." (Genesis 12:1-4) And the opportunity presented itself and fell into his hands, as it is written, "And Abimelech went to him from Gerar and they said, 'Behold, we have seen...'" (Genesis 26:26-28). Joseph made room for the opportunity when he was being sold to the Ishmaelites and could not say, "I am your brother," but remained silent and made room for the opportunity. And the opportunity presented itself and fell into his hands, as it is written, "And his brothers also went and fell down before him..." (Genesis 50:18). Jacob made room for the opportunity and fled from Esau, as it is written, "And Jacob fled..." (Hosea 12:13), and the opportunity presented itself and fell into his hands, as it is written, "And Esau took his wives and went to the land away from Jacob his brother..." (Genesis 36:6). Therefore, it is said to you, "Come into your chambers, my people..." (Isaiah 26:20). [2] Alternative interpretation: "And Jacob fled. "The prudent sees danger and hides himself" (Proverbs 22:3). This is Jacob, and what did he see and flee from? Once he received the blessings, Esau began seeking to kill him, as it is said, "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, 'The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.'" (Genesis 27:41). Jacob went to stay with Ishmael, as it says, "And Esau went to Ishmael" (Genesis 28:9). Jacob said to Ishmael, "Your brother Isaac is my father, and I cannot kill him. But if you join forces with me, we will kill Esau." It was for Esau that Abraham was forced to expel Ishmael from his home, as Sarah said, "Cast out this slave woman and her son" (Genesis 21:10). "You kill my brother and I will kill Jacob my brother, and we will take the whole world for ourselves." And he also thought to himself, "If anyone kills his father, I will kill Jacob my brother." I will come to prosecute Ishmael, asking him why he killed my father, and I will kill him and take the whole world for myself. God said to him, "No creature knows what you thought in your heart," as it is said, "Because you have said, 'These two nations and these two lands will be mine, and we will possess them,' although the Lord was there" (Ezekiel 35:10). "I was there, and now I am revealing what you wanted to do," as it is said, "For I have laid bare Esau, I have uncovered his hiding places" (Jeremiah 49:10). "And I have only revealed the obvious," as it is said, "Reveal the arm of the Holy One and uncover his hiding places" (Isaiah 52:10). "Why did you want to destroy his offspring and his brother and his divine presence?" And that is why they did not succeed. When Jacob saw these actions, he said, "Why should I sit here and endanger myself and Ishmael? Therefore it is said, 'The prudent sees danger and hides himself' (Proverbs 22:3), and Jacob fled to the field of Aram." And the Holy Spirit cried out, saying, "For God shall cast upon him, and not spare; he would fain flee out of his hand." (Job 27:22).
